Regional landfills methane emission inventory in Malaysia

Abstract

The decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW) in landfills under anaerobic conditions produces landfill gas (LFG) containing approximately 50—60% methane (CH₄) and 30—40% carbon dioxide (CO₂) by volume. CH₄ has a global warming potential 21 times greater than CO₂; thus, it poses a serious environmental problem. As landfills are the main method for waste disposal in Malaysia, the major aim of this study was to estimate the total CH₄ emissions from landfills in all Malaysian regions and states for the year 2009 using the IPCC, 1996 first-order decay (FOD) model focusing on clean development mechanism (CDM) project applications to initiate emission reductions. Furthermore, the authors attempted to assess, in quantitative terms, the amount of CH₄ that would be emitted from landfills in the period from 1981—2024 using the IPCC 2006 FOD model. The total CH₄ emission using the IPCC 1996 model was estimated to be 318.8 Gg in 2009. The Northern region had the highest CH₄ emission inventory, with 128.8 Gg, whereas the Borneo region had the lowest, with 24.2 Gg. It was estimated that Pulau Penang state produced the highest CH₄ emission, 77.6 Gg, followed by the remaining states with emission values ranging from 38.5 to 1.5 Gg. Based on the IPCC 1996 FOD model, the total Malaysian CH₄ emission was forecast to be 397.7 Gg by 2020. The IPCC 2006 FOD model estimated a 201 Gg CH₄ emission in 2009, and estimates ranged from 98 Gg in 1981 to 263 Gg in 2024.

Keywords

Methane emission clean development mechanism (CDM)emission inventory landfills Malaysian landfills

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