Climate Impacts of Trace Gas Emissions from Solid Waste Landfills
Publication: Geo-Congress 2023
ABSTRACT
Direct and indirect climate forcing emissions of 65 non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) species, grouped into 10 chemical families, were quantified from five solid waste landfills in California over dry and wet seasons. Tests and analyses were conducted for various daily, intermediate, and final cover systems. Correlations were developed between direct climate forcing emissions and site-specific geotechnical properties. Direct and indirect NMVOC emissions across all landfills were significant, ranging from –1.62 × 10–1 to 1.33 × 102 and from –4.53 × 101 to 8.53 × 102 Mg CO2-eq./year, respectively. Direct and indirect NMVOC emissions were highest for the alkane chemical family. Strong correlations were observed between calculated NMVOC emissions and cover soil geotechnical properties, demonstrating that NMVOC emissions decreased with increasing clay content, total cover solids, composite void ratio, and composite gas-phase tortuosity. The test results can be used to develop strategic cover design and operational aspects to mitigate adverse climate impacts of MSW landfills.
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Geo-Congress 2023
Pages: 201 - 210
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Published online: Mar 23, 2023
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