Controlling greenhouse gas emissions through landfill in situ aeration

Landfills and old waste deposits are some of the major anthropogenic sources of methane (CH₄) emissions worldwide. Despite the fact that during the last 15 years the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-eq.) emitted from German landfills was reduced by approximately two thirds, estimates show that currently more than 10 Mtonnes are still being emitted annually. As a case study, the in situ aerated former Kuhstedt Landfill (District of Rotenburg (Wümme), Germany) was assessed regarding the possibility of reducing the emitted amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG; here methane). The assessment was based on both a model calculation of the landfill gas emissions that should occur under anaerobic conditions (reference scenario) as well as using monitoring data plus extrapolations to determine the actual emissions from the landfill. It was demonstrated that more than 72% of the total GHG emissions occurring under anaerobic conditions could be avoided by altering the ambient aerobic/oxidizing conditions. By means of subsequent thermal treatment (regenerative thermal oxidation, RTO) of the extracted off-gases during the aeration process, the amount of CO₂-eq. savings, as calculated from the amount of emitted methane taking into account secondary emissions for energy production, could be further increased to 96%.