Overview
Landfill gas (LFG) is generated during the natural process of bacterial decomposition of organic material contained in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. A number of factors influence the quantity of gas that a MSW landfill generates and the components of that gas. These factors include, but are not limited to, the types and age of the waste buried in the landfill, the quantity and types of organic compounds in the waste, and the moisture content and temperature of the waste. LFG gas consists of about 50% methane (the primary component of natural gas), about 50% carbon dioxide (CO2), and a small amount of non–methane organic compounds. Methane is generated in landfills and open dumps as waste decomposes under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions.
According to the USEPA, MSW landfills are the second-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, accounting for approximately 22% of these emissions in 2008. One way of counteracting these emissions is to properly engineer systems to collect and treat landfill gas. This course is intended for civil and environmental engineers who are interested in treatment and disposal of municipal solid waste. Course material is based on USACE publication EM 1110-1-4016.
A quiz consisting of forty-five (45) questions must be passed to earn PDH credit.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- LFG generation mechanisms
- Aerobic vs. anaerobic decomposition
- Factors affecting LFG generation and transport mechanisms
- LFG characteristics
- LFG condensate source and collection
- Site characterization
- Estimating LFG emissions
- Design components of LFG collection and treatment systems
- Operations and maintenance (O&M), such as monitoring and condensate collection
- Key regulatory requirements
Course
Click on the following link to the PDF document to review the course material before taking the quiz for credit.
Landfill Off-Gas Collection and Treatment Systems
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