Title: Estimation of methane and landfill gas emission from an open dump site

Authors: George K. Ngusale; Michael O. Oloko; Frankline Otiende; Kabok P. Aguko

Addresses: School of Engineering and Technology, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga of Science and Technology, 210-40601 Bondo, Kenya ' School of Engineering and Technology, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga of Science and Technology, 210-40601 Bondo, Kenya ' School of Spatial Planning and Natural Resources Management, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga of Science and Technology, 210-40601 Bondo, Kenya ' School of Engineering and Technology, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga of Science and Technology, 210-40601 Bondo, Kenya

Abstract: Globally, an inventory of methane (CH4) emissions from human related activity is needed by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Waste discarded, herein referred to as municipal solid waste (MSW), is a major source of anthropogenic emissions. In Kenya, MSW generation in major cities is ever increasing due to rapid urbanisation. The MSW mostly disposed in open dumpsites decomposes (aerobically and anaerobically) releasing greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions into the atmosphere. The open dumpsites are normally shallow and unmanaged, thus posing direct and indirect environmental hazards to surrounding populace. Kisumu city, the third largest city in Kenya, was used as a case study in determining the total methane and landfill gas emission in Kachok open dumpsite from 1998 to 2018. LandGEM model version 3.02 was used to estimate the gas emission with volumetric methane percent of 50%, production potential of 19.099 m3/mg and methane generation rate of 0.05 year−1. Results show that in the year 2018, 1.164 * 106 m3 and 2.329 * 106 m3 of methane and landfill gas, respectively, were produced. These values are very significant in planning to upgrade the open dumpsite into a landfill for energy production and other related landfill gas applications.

Keywords: methane; CH4; greenhouse gas; GHG; open dumpsite; municipal solid waste; MSW; Kisumu; Kachok.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2021.118368

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2021 Vol.28 No.3, pp.317 - 327

Received: 14 May 2019
Accepted: 29 Aug 2019

Published online: 25 Oct 2021 *

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