Mitigating Fugitive Methane Emissions from Closed Landfills: A Pilot-Scale Field Study

Abstract

Successful land reclamation during after-care depends on passive, low-maintenance solutions to manage fugitive methane (CH4) emissions. That is, those emissions not captured by gas collection systems at closed landfills. Passive methane oxidation biosystems (PMOBs) have been considered a technically sound and cost-effective treatment system for these fugitive CH4 emissions. Microbial oxidation of methane gas is achieved by methanotrophs, a group of mostly mesophilic obligate aerobes. Achieving year-round methane oxidation requires certain conditions for survival of these organisms. The objective of this study is to develop a design procedure for a PMOB capable of abating fugitive methane to acceptable levels year-round a pilot-scale PMOB developed at closed landfill in the Region of Waterloo, now a public park. The effectiveness of the design will be evaluated by monitoring methane emissions at different points in the PMOB. Successful completion of the project may provide a low-maintenance, high impact technology to abate landfill emissions that could be applied by landfill designers and operators across Canada. This paper presents some of the steps taken to design, install and monitor the PMOB.