The potential for climate change mitigation in solid waste disposal: A case study of lagos landfills

Abstract

Solid waste disposal sites account for up to 20% of global emissions of methane the second most significant greenhouse gas. However, under proper management landfills can in fact have a positive carbon balance, by capturing the methane-rich landfill gas (LFG) produced from the dumpsites. This paper assesses the potential for implementing such a project in the Olusosun waste disposal site in Lagos, Nigeria. Data regarding municipal solid wastes (MSW) generation and composition, regulations as well as relevant aspects of the Nigerian energy market and its regulations and climate change policies were evaluated. This is employed to assess the potential for a viable implementation of a landfill gas to energy project at the site. The analyses revealed that the flaring only scenario was observed to be the most economically feasible. The cost of producing electricity from LFG (approx. US$50/MWh) is higher than the estimated long term cost from natural-gas fed thermal plants (at US$39/MWh).