There may be too much methane seeping into the atmosphere from the Vancouver Landfill.
A recent Delta staff report notes that, overall, landfill gas collection efficiency improved to 77 per cent for 2018, an improvement from 74 per cent in 2016 and 75.1 per cent last year. A target of efficiency of 75 per cent is set out in the BC Landfill Gas Management Regulation.
However, the report also notes that while Vancouver is striving to collect as much landfill gas as possible, there is still a quantity of methane that is not collected and is emitted to the atmosphere.
“Methane has a global warming potential that is 25 times greater than an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide. As a result, the estimated quantity of methane emissions from the landfill are multiplied by 25 to get emissions that are reported in carbon dioxide equivalents,” the report notes.
The report also notes that each per cent increase in landfill gas collection efficiency represents a reduction in emissions comparable to removing 1,400 vehicles from the road, but it’s unknown exactly how much methane from the amount of landfill gas not collected actually escapes to the atmosphere.
To be closed in phases, the Vancouver Landfill is authorized to accept 750,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste, including demolition waste, for disposal each year
Vancouver, which runs the landfill in East Ladner, is conducting a five-year study using aerial remote monitoring technology to get a better understanding of the quantity and locations of methane that is escaping from the landfill.
While methane is more potent than carbon dioxide as a heat-trapping gas, it remains in the atmosphere for a shorter time. The difference is about a decade for methane compared to centuries for CO2.
The Delta report also provides an update on activities and initiatives taking place at the dump including the long-term closure plan.
A $30 million closure project for the “Western 40 Hectares” is expected to be completed by 2020. Other closure phases would then commence. The current operating agreement between the City of Vancouver, Delta and Metro Vancouver has the landfill open until 2037.
