Estimation of landfill gas emissions at the solid waste disposal site of low-population regions with LandGEM and tabasaran-rettenberger mathematical models

Abstract

In developing countries, solid waste most commonly ultimately ends up is landfill. Landfill sites release significant amounts of air pollutants, such as methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide. It is thus important to reduce, control, and recycle these gases. In this study, we aimed to calculate gas emissions and energy production from landfill sites serving low-population areas. Future landfill gas production was estimated using LandGEM and Tabasaran - Rettenberger models, based on population and waste volume predictions. In both models, total amount of landfill gas and CH4 produced reached their highest values in 2035. According to the LandGEM model, this will amount to 11,230 and 3,179 Mg/year, respectively, while the Tabasaran - Rettenberger model predicted 14,986 and 4,014 Mg/year, respectively. The volume of landfill gas calculated using the Tabasaran - Rettenberger model was 3.730 million m3/year for 2021, while this was 2.544 million m3/year using the LandGEM model. In 2021, 84007 Mg of waste was disposed of at the landfill site. According to data from the electricity generation plant at the site, the electrical energy generated in 2021 was 5,309 kWh. Comparing the results from these two models with actual landfill data, the Tabasaran - Rettenberger model came closest to the estimate. Therefore, the Tabasaran - Rettenberger model can be used to estimate the potential for gas production at landfill sites in cities with similar waste components.