Title: Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste landfill, Durgapur, India

Authors: Md Mainul Sk

Addresses: Department of Geography, Rajendra University, Balangir, Odisha, India

Abstract: Unscientific landfilling of solid waste significantly contributes to global warming due to high concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted from landfills. This study estimates landfill gas (LFG) emissions from the Shankarpur landfill site in Durgapur, India. The methodological principles adopted in this analysis are based on primary and secondary data sources. LandGEM model was applied to predict LFG emissions from Shankarpur landfill site, in an effort to determine the energy recovery potential and reduce GHGs emissions into the atmosphere. The total LFGs, methane, carbon dioxide, and NMOC emissions from the landfill have been found to be 1.98 × 10⁺⁰⁷, 6.62 × 10⁺⁰³, 9.92 × 10⁺⁰⁶ and 1.19 × 10⁺⁰⁴ m³/year, respectively. The results indicate that the highest concentration of GHGs emissions occurs shortly after landfill closure and the emission decreases gradually over time. The study highlights the potential adverse impact of greenhouse gases emissions from the landfill site on the ambient air quality, underlining the need for improved waste management practices in study area to achieve sustainable waste management and to combat global climate change.

Keywords: landfills; greenhouse gases; GHG emissions; global warming; sustainable waste management; methane emissions; carbon dioxide emissions; energy recovery; landfill gas; Shankarpur landfill; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2026.151364

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2026 Vol.39 No.1, pp.65 - 83

Accepted: 11 Aug 2024
Published online: 26 Jan 2026 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article