After a number of years, methane concentrations in landfill will have decreased to a level where it is no longer technically or financially feasible to recover the landfill gas and use or flare it. Once this point has been reached, a passive approach can be applied to minimise any residual methane emissions. Methane oxidation is the process in which bacteria in the soil layer on top of the landfill, helped by oxygen, degrade the landfill gas, converting into carbon dioxide and water.
It is important that the landfill gas is distributed over the entire surface to provide the bacteria with an even amount of ‘food’. Therefore a gas distribution membrane is needed, and the soil layer placed on top should allow sufficient breathing space. If the methane oxidation process has been planned and constructed correctly, we can expect to achieve a reduction in emissions of up to 70%.
Afvalzorg can design a system that best suits your site, and can assist in its construction, management and monitoring. A look at our portfolio will show you methane oxidation membrane projects operating at several locations in the Netherlands and Spain, where each situation is unique.
