Mark Swilling- Sustainabilit Institute

1. Mark Swilling- Sustainabilit Institute • What are the obstacles to large scale commercial applications here in SA? • Technology or policy constraints ? • Answer Sweden: no power and heating- better payback • Combine heating with chillers • Strong political will visible

2. Answer Price • Focus not be how to get things out of LF but to avoid to get that organic materials in LF. Focus on waste recovery must be • Use of landfill only as last resource but not see as ch4 generators • Alternative mindset needed • Saliem: no seperation of waste- but this is key component. Energy sources very cheap- little incentives. Mindset of people and politicians • Part of developed countries. According to Kyoto- RSA can play role with carbon credits

3. Flora City of JHB • No disincentives to produce waste , transport biggest costs in WM • SWM was managed by DWAF-did not a good job therefore passed back to DEAT, to close loopholes • Viability of project- how much gas need to be there ? Full potential of LF how can it be established ? Experiences from overseas. • Capital cost- average, infrastructure, support mechanism required?

4. John • Difficult to generalise, sites must be individually tested to assess viability. In terms of electricity- premium is currently paid for green energy. This has to change ! • Recommendation to assess LFs close to industrial areas • Difficult to give a generic figure • 1.8 million for 4 wells • Bellville: feasibilty R 450 000, 125 000 tons • John kinkhead- Ekhurweni: Reclaim brown sites for LF • Does not think it will be feasable for the next decades

5. More education to recycling required to mitigate problem and improve • Ward based refuse collection- the more reused and recycle the more incentives • Peter Holm Sustainable Africa: • Waste treatment site in europe in the middle of town- total systems approach should be rethought. Separate waste at source, shortest route to centralised site, use methane directly for heating and cooling • Price –agrees with statements made • ICLEI thinks this is the best case scenario- has been practiced in many countries and municipalities, Local handling of waste

6. Sweden guy- Considerations in Stockholm • Diesel fuels for running cars much more expensive in the long run- running biogas is good business for the transport companies in Stockholm • Ron van der Berg (CDM Africa) • How was project received in Sweden ? • Role of wood waste • Look at viability and CDM at the same time • Low viability means high CDM potential • 50 000 tons Co2 per year should be retrieved

7. Reduced rates for green cleans given by Joburg • Still large amounts of greens going to waste truck • Sweden public- well received, high marketing of inititiatives, branding, corporation . Award as Green City • Billy Twala Marin da Gama: Issues faced in Bellville gas migration threat to community. Do you engage in mechanism that control effects to underground water and other environmental threats? • Serious look to source separation requested !

8. John: Monitoring is very important. City employs external groups to monitor regularly. • Mitigation planning has been put in place in case gas concentrations reach critical levels. • Water quality- series of ponds constructed to dilute the leachate concentration • Liners must be put in • Regular monitoring with probes • In jhb LF about 20 times more Ch4 than in bellville

9. Thailand drives mainly on education –sufficient for medium and high income areas. • What size of plant is required ? Operation time ? • Overseas electricity much more expensive than in RSA • Generators can be clustered up • Size of JHB site- 30 MW if you fully utilise the site.problem is dry winters- low gas production. Can not run throughout the year. Huge potential.

10. In DWAFS Wmin guidelines do not incorporate considerations of LFG removal and CDM project. • What is the right time, right price to jump, way to reduce risks ? • Russia not signed Kyoto. European countries will proceed. Not to much concerned . SA structure has been set up. Price varies wildly, WWF Gold standard- for higher prices. Decisions must be made individually . But do not wait too long.

11. Summary of Eco Cycle utility project • Very strong political involvement, support and public acceptance. • Below 5% fossil fuel utilisation in Stockholm • 50% of energy from incineration • 420 municipal eco cars • Target 60% of fleet by 2005 • All buses on ethanol or hybrid • No organics allowed at LFs in Sweden • Ethanol as new business opportunity • NO tax for fuel- economy is same as for petrol. Incentives for the future ?

12. Main outcomes and recommendations • Government: • Merging of utilities into eco-cycles • Symbioses of metabolic streams • Compents: WWTP, Waste Treatment, Transport, Energy, Water • Example: Off Heat / cooling is used from one utility to the other • Closing resource cycles throughout the city • Politicians must realize longterm gains from that type of mindset

13. Lessons learnt on Thailand biogas project • Key to biogas utilisation is waste separation at source !!! • Education well in advance to technical implementation • Treats 70 tons per day produces fertiliser and electricity • 95% Co2 savings (~43 500 tons/annum)

14. Tony Peterse -Ekhurlweni • 1998 pilot project Cost R 558 000 in Weltevreden • 25% Diesel 75% Gas • 3 vehicles- 450 kg methane gas/day • Savings R 25000-35000 • Only 10% of LF site used • Filters to clean LF gas R 80 000 each • Conversion were expensive • Workshop not geared to maintain those vehicles • 20% loss in power • Frequent refill required

15. Ekhurlweni Lessons learnt • Fuel might not be the best way to utilise LFG gas • High potential for use • Weltevrede LFG recovery potential about 20 times higher than in Bellville

16. John Coetzee • Potential of recovering 125 000 tons of C02 per annum • Prefeasibility study done by SSN • Feasibility study underway (R 450 000) MIIU • Capping posing risk of pressure cooker effect(gas migrating) • Close proximity to industries • Current site unlined with low permeability Cape Flats sand • Pollution plume has been identified • Link up of portable gas extration unit with odour control unit- good results

17. Summary of Q & A session • To not consider LFs as Methane producing factories but try to cut amount of organics and recyclables to LF- via source separation • Viability of LFG project must be established ad hoc. Viability /CDM ? • Recommendation to assess LFs close to industrial areas • Waste treatment site in europe in the middle of town- total systems approach should be rethought. Separate waste at source, shortest route to centralised site, use methane directly for heating and cooling. Generators can be clustered up