Technologies and Management Options for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Landfills

1. Technologies and Management Options for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Landfills CIWMB Board Meeting April 22, 2008 Sacramento, CA

2. Outline of Presentation • Objectives • Project Team • Technical Advisory Group • Literature Review • Summary of Technologies and BMPs • Screening for Site-Specific BMPs • Metrics for Assessment of GHG Reductions

3. Objectives of Project • Create a guidance document to assist landfill owners/operators and regulators • Detail “state of the practice” for reducing GHG emissions at landfills • Provide reference information to support CARB’s early action measures • Develop a methodology for site-specific application

4. Project Team • CIWMB Staff • Lead Contractor: SCS Engineers (Pat Sullivan) • Integrated Waste Management Consulting, LLC (Matt Cotton) • Pacific Waste Consulting Group, Inc. (Mark White) • GC Environmental, Inc. (Dick Prosser)

5. Technical Advisory Group • Regulatory Agency: Renaldo Crooks; CARB • Environmental Community: Scott Smithline; Californians Against Waste • Large Public Landfill Owner: Tim Israel; Sacramento County • Small Public Landfill Owner: Mary Pitto; Rural Counties ESJPA

6. Technical Advisory Group (cont.) • Private Landfill Owner: Chuck White; Waste Management, Inc. • Randy Masukawa; Power Management, Inc. • Rich Haughey; Shaw Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. • Ramin Yazdani; Yolo County • Jim Bier; Ameresco, Inc.

7. Literature Review • Sources: Proceedings from Industry Conferences, Regulatory Documents, Technical Journals, Textbooks, etc. • Focus on Practical, Real-World Solutions • Actual Experience of Experts More Important than Literature Sources • Literature Critical for Research in Biocovers

8. Technologies and BMPs • LFG BMPs • Design-Related BMPs for LFG Collection Components • BMPs for LFG Systems Equipment • BMPs for Enhanced O&M • BMPs for LFG Management Strategies • Enhanced Monitoring, Modeling, and Testing BMPs

9. Technologies and BMPs (cont.) • Landfill Design and Operations-Related BMPs • BMPs for Landfill Systems • BMPs for Landfill Cover Systems • BMPs for Landfill Operations • BMPs for Enhanced Landfills • Other Solid Waste Management Strategies

10. Technologies and BMPs (cont.) • Description of BMP • Schematics or photos where relevant • Feasibility • Implementation Recommendations • Relative Cost • Low, medium, or high and unit costs where available • Relative GHG Emissions Reduction Potential • Low, medium, or high

11. Biocover Systems • Improved methane oxidation over soil covers • Additional beneficial use of organic waste • Biocover, biofilter, and biocell Concepts • Replacement for daily and/or intermediate cover systems • Possible use as component of final cover system • Possible use of green waste ADC but reduced efficiency over engineered biocover • Compost is most suitable material but other materials possible

12. Other Solid Waste Management Strategies • Composting • Any Other Organic Waste Diversion/Recycling Program • Anaerobic Digestion • Bale Waste Prior to Disposal • Dedicated Organic Waste Cells

13. Screening Process for Site-Specific BMPs • Assessing Technical Feasibility • Evaluating Implementability • Estimating Cost • Estimating GHG Reduction Benefit • Prioritization and Ranking • Final Selection • Action Plan

14. Metrics for Assessment of GHG Emissions Reductions • Performance Criteria • Additional LFG Collected • Surface Emission Reductions • Amount of Diverted Organic Waste • Measurement Techniques • Gas Flow and Methane Measurement • Enhanced SEM Program • Scale House Records • Tracking of Progress

15. Concluding Thoughts • Guidance must be applied on site-specific basis • There is no “one size fits all” • Report must be considered for periodic revision as technologies change and develop • Must consider life-cycle GHG impacts/benefits • Questions or Comments