The development of a strategy for Biffa Waste Services to reduce its atmospheric emissions of landfill methane

The thesis considers the environmental policy statement of Biffa WasteServices to progressively reduce its methane emissions to atmosphere, andthen sets out to develop a strategy for achieving this aim. As a major wastedisposal company, disposing of 5.5 million tonnes of waste to landfill in 1999,the production of methane from the biodegradation of this landfilled waste issignificant, and also an important proportion of UK landfill methane emissionsas a whole.It was necessary to develop a sufficiently accurate method of quantitativemeasurement of methane production, and a computer based mathematicalmodel was developed. It was tailored for six alternative waste streams in orderto give flexibility for the changing nature of site inputs. Waste inputs for each of40 Biffa landfills were gathered, categorised and analysed from 1983 onwardsand the results totalised. This was checked against 2 alternative existing gasproduction models used by AEAT and the USEPA.Alternative methods of methane disposal were considered, taking into accountthe wide range of potential calorific values of the gas and the application todiffering types of landfill. Existing and potential disposal strategies are thenconsidered using the various gas management technologies available and thesoftware used as a 'what if analysis tool to investigate the potential impact ofvarious proposals. The software is equally valid for assessing the effect offuture reductions in the amount of biodegradable waste that will result from theimplication of the EL) landfill directive.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Master's Level (Level 7)

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Wilkins, GT

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1339707

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1339707