This article was downloaded by: [Leandro Janke] On: 28 March 2013, At: 09:48 Publisher: Taylor &

Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

Environmental Technology
Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tent20

Development and application of a methodology for a clean development mechanism to avoid methane emissions in closed landfills
Leandro Janke , Andr O.S. Lima , Maurice Millet & Claudemir M. Radetski
a b a a b a

Universidade do Vale do Itaja, Laboratrio de Remediao Ambiental, Itaja SC, Brazil

Universit de Strasbourg, Laboratoire Matriaux, Surfaces et Procds pour la Catalyse (CNRS UMR 7515), Strasbourg, France Accepted author version posted online: 28 Feb 2013.Version of record first published: 22 Mar 2013.

To cite this article: Leandro Janke , Andr O.S. Lima , Maurice Millet & Claudemir M. Radetski (2013): Development and application of a methodology for a clean development mechanism to avoid methane emissions in closed landfills, Environmental Technology, DOI:10.1080/09593330.2013.781228 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2013.781228

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.

Environmental Technology, 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2013.781228

Development and application of a methodology for a clean development mechanism to avoid methane emissions in closed landlls
Leandro Jankea , Andr O.S. Limaa , Maurice Milletb and Claudemir M. Radetskia,
a Universidade

do Vale do Itaja, Laboratrio de Remediao Ambiental, Itaja SC, Brazil; b Universit de Strasbourg, Laboratoire Matriaux, Surfaces et Procds pour la Catalyse (CNRS UMR 7515), Strasbourg, France (Received 10 April 2012; nal version received 25 February 2013 )

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

In Brazil, Solid Waste Disposal Sites have operated without consideration of environmental criteria, these areas being characterized by methane (CH4 ) emissions during the anaerobic degradation of organic matter. The United Nations organization has made eorts to control this situation, through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, where projects that seek to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) can be nancially rewarded through Certied Emission Reductions (CERs) if they respect the requirements established by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), such as the use of methodologies approved by the CDM Executive Board (CDM-EB). Thus, a methodology was developed according to the CDM standards related to the aeration, excavation and composting of closed Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landlls, which was submitted to CDM-EB for assessment and, after its approval, applied to a real case study in Maring City (Brazil) with a view to avoiding negative environmental impacts due the production of methane and leachates even after its closure. This paper describes the establishment of this CDM-EB-approved methodology to determine baseline emissions, project emissions and the resultant emission reductions with the application of appropriate aeration, excavation and composting practices at closed MSW landlls. A further result obtained through the application of the methodology in the landll case study was that it would be possible to achieve an ex-ante emission reduction of 74,013 tCO2 equivalent if the proposed CDM project activity were implemented. Keywords: greenhouse gases; clean development mechanism; municipal solid wastes; composting; UNFCCC

1. Introduction Global Climate Change (GCC) is placed among the most important environmental modications able to aect the humannature relationship. [1,2] GCC is induced by anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, because these gases can interact with the infrared radiation of the Earths surface, causing an average increase in global temperatures. [3] This may result in several eects, including increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events such as hurricanes, rain and drought, sea level rise caused by melting of glaciers, and hydrological imbalance aecting food production and hydroelectric power generation. [4] Following intense discussions on this subject initiated by the United Nations (UN), a convention was created to deal with this environmental problem of global concern. In 1992 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was launched in order to stabilize the atmospheric concentrations of GHGs at levels which minimize adverse anthropogenic interference in climatic systems. Reduction targets for GHG emission were thus established by the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 which, during the rst commitment period (20082012), only applied to
Corresponding

developed countries. [5] To combat GCC and to promote GHG emission reductions in an eective manner, exible mechanisms were created in order to reduce the costs during the development of emission reduction projects, allowing the voluntary participation of developing countries regarding GCC mitigation issues. [6] The most discussed exible mechanism applied to developing countries is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). This mechanism allows the participation of countries such as Brazil during the development of projects that reduce GHG emission through the adoption of environmentally sustainable technologies and practices. The most important characteristic of the CDM is that this mechanism allows amortization of the investment through the negotiation of Certied Emission Reductions (CERs), also called Carbon Credits. For a project activity to obtain CDM status and benet from the CERs it must be submitted according to the regulations established by international agreements within the sphere of the UNFCCC. CDM modalities and procedures were established in the Marrakesh Accords of 2001. Thus, each project activity submitted for CDM registration must use a methodology evaluated and approved by

author. Email: radetski@univali.br

2013 Taylor & Francis

L. Janke et al. landlls, through the concept of aeration, excavation, sorting and composting of the organic matter present in these sites. [11] Despite the fact that studies have previously demonstrated the CH4 emission reduction potential of this technique, today there is no CDM-approved methodology which applies this MSW treatment technique to closed MSW landlls. Thus, the aim of this research was to develop a CDM methodology and apply it to the MSW handling and disposal sector, allowing GHG emission reductions through project activities using aeration, excavation, sorting and composting techniques at closed landlls. 2. Methodology This study was carried out according to the CDM regulations, in particular, the Simplied Modalities and Procedures for Small-Scale CDM Project Activities. However, the large-scale methodology AM0025 was also used as a reference for the development of the proposed CDM methodology. Both of these documents are available for access in the UNFCCC database (http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/index.html). Thus, for the Validation and Registration of a smallscale CDM project activity, one of the following steps must be followed: Use a methodology specied in Appendix B of the simplied modalities and procedures for CDM small-scale project activities (i.e. already approved methodology list), or; Submit changes to a methodology already specied in Appendix B of the simplied modalities and procedures for CDM small-scale project activities to the CDM-EB for consideration (i.e. submit a revision of a previously approved methodology), or; Submit a project category to be added to those contained in Appendix B of the simplied modalities and procedures of the small-scale project activities to the CDM-EB for consideration (i.e. submit a new methodology). In this regard, on 09/03/2009 a new small-scale methodology providing information on the technology/measures was submitted by email to the UNFCCC Secretariat together with the CDM-proposed methodology applicable to the related category, that is, the treatment of partially decayed MSW found in closed landlls. To ensure the analysis of the submission by the CDM-EB we used a standardized form containing the following information: Proponents name, aliation (i.e. Designated operational entity (DOE), Designated National Authority (DNA), project proponent or other) and contact for the technician responsible; Proposed title for the new methodology;

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

the CDM Executive Board (CDM-EB) and Methodological Panel. [7] A CDM methodology must basically guide the project developer through the issues related to the baseline emissions, project activity emissions, leakage emissions, emission reductions and monitoring plan. The baseline GHG emissions are those that would occur if the proposed project activity is not implemented, that is, the business as usual scenario. The project activity emissions are a consequence of the operation of the CDM project activity, and are measured through parameters dened by the applicable methodology. Leakage emissions represent the GHG emissions caused by indirect sources, and the monitoring plan determines the technical parameters which need to be recorded during the operation of the project activity. [8] Thus, by identifying the baseline emissions, project activity emissions and leakage emissions, it is possible to calculate the net emission reductions for a certain project activity, through the equation below:
Emission Reduction = Baseline (Leakage + Project Emissions)

In most cases, the activities related to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) handling and disposal involves methane (CH4 ) emissions, because landlls create an environment with low levels or a complete absence of oxygen (O2 ). According to UNEP, [9] in 2005 the management of wastes was estimated to produce 35% of the total anthropogenic GHG emissions on a global scale. The anaerobic decay of organic matter, which has been termed anaerobic biodegradation, will persist for years, with a concomitant liberation of leachates. [10,11] Most existing Brazilian Solid Waste Disposal Sites (SWDS) were constructed/operated without regard to environmental criteria, such as the installation of gas wells to enable the methane recovery and bottom impermeabilization systems to avoid ground water contamination by leachate. The methane emissions, in particular from closed landlls, are not negligible and merit special attention, because landll operators do not take enough care of the remediation of the created environmental liabilities, [12,13]; for example, it was estimated that nal methane yields are between 59.1 and 63.9 m3 CH4 wet Mg refuse1 for wastes in the USA. [14] Dierent technologies that reduce CH4 emissions from anaerobic decay in landlls are available and could be used in a methodology approved by the UNFCCC CDM-EB Methodological Panel. In developing countries, few remediative projects are dedicated to closed landlls, which are considered as environmental liabilities. [12,13] As an alternative to the techniques previously established according to the CDM, the treatment of MSW by introducing O2 into the microbiological degradation process could promote the aerobic decay of organic matter. [10,15] This technique could be applied also to the treatment of MSW deposited in closed

Environmental Technology Submission of justication for the new methodology proposed; Forwarding of declaration regarding the new methodology proposed, together with a project design document (PDD) draft applicable to the related methodology; Forwarding of declaration of the technical papers related to the proposed methodology. The proposed CDM methodology was also forwarded to the UNFCCC Secretariat addressing the following aspects: Technology/measures which the project is based on, that is, the measures that must the applied to provide GHG emission reductions; Denitions of terms used in the proposed CDM methodology; Conditions for application of the proposed CDM methodology; Boundary of the proposed CDM methodology, that is, the place where the GHG emissions/reductions occur; Baseline emission procedures; CDM project activity emission procedures; Leakage emissions; Monitoring parameters. Methodologies previously approved by the CDM-EB were used to support the development of the CDM methodology proposed, as follows: 2.1. Baseline emissions Tool to determine methane emissions avoided from disposal of waste at a solid waste disposal site, version 04, to evaluate the CH4 emissions if the MSW remains landlled; AMS-III.E. Avoidance of methane production from decay of biomass through controlled combustion, gasication or mechanical/thermal treatment, version 15, to control the methane emissions according to the excavation and treatment of MSW; Procedure to determine emissions of the post operation period of CDM Project activity (proposed herein).

AM0025 Avoided emissions from organic waste through alternative waste treatment process, version 11, to evaluate the CH4 emissions during the organic matter composting activity; AM0025 Avoided emissions from organic waste through alternative waste treatment process, version 11, to evaluate the N2 O emissions during organic matter composting activity. To apply the proposed methodology, the case study adopted was the controlled landll in Maring City, Paran State (Brazil), which started operating in 1980 and exhausted its waste-receiving capacity in 2008. A description of the engineering process related to the Biopuster aeration system has been published by Budde et al. [11] As a CH4 emission mitigation measure we implemented the proposed project over a period of 4 years (i.e. 20092012), for the activities of aeration, excavation and composting of the MSW present in the landll. After collecting some additional information the proposed CDM methodology was approved, under the denomination of AMS-III.AF. Avoidance of methane emissions through excavating and composting of partially decayed municipal solid waste (MSW),1 allowing its application to the landll case study, addressing the following aspects: Procedures to evaluate the baseline emissions; Procedures to evaluate the emissions of the CDM project activity; Leakage emissions; Procedures to evaluate ex-ante emission reductions. 3. Results 3.1. CDM methodology introduction In order to gain a clear understanding of the developed CDM methodology, and for its correct application, it is fundamental to comprehend the following points. 3.1.1. Technology/measures The developed CDM methodology comprises measures to avoid methane emissions to the atmosphere from MSW that is already deposited in a closed SWDS without methane recovery. In the project activity, methane emissions will be avoided by applying the following sequential measures/steps: (a) Aerobic pre-treatment by aerating the existing SWDS to achieve a safe operational environment for the subsequent excavation; (b) Excavation of the MSW from the SWDS and separation into inert and non-inert materials; the excavation phase has to commence immediately after the pre-aeration phase, i.e. without a signicant time lag;

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

2.2.

CDM project activity emissions AMS-I.D. Grid connected renewable electricity generation, version 16, to evaluate the CO2 emissions from electricity consumed from the grid; AMS-III.E. Avoidance of methane production from decay of biomass through controlled combustion, gasication or mechanical/thermal treatment, version 15, to evaluate the CO2 emissions originating from the transport of waste and composting;

L. Janke et al. (c) Composting the non-inert material and proper soil application of the compost. Inert: The remaining fraction which does not pass through the screens/sieves used in the separation process; it is assumed that this portion of MSW does not decompose during the crediting period (e.g. plastic, glass and metals). Considering the above methodological approach, the SWDS aerobic pre-treatment alone does not allow reductions in methane emissions; however, immediately after the MSW excavation the reductions in methane emissions begin (only for the excavated MSW fraction). 3.1.2. Applicability conditions Box 1 shows a description of the applicability conditions observed for the development of the CDM methodology. 3.2. CDM methodology proposal Firstly, the results obtained through the application of the emission/reduction measurement method contained in the CDM methodology proposal (SSC-NM028) submitted available at the UNFCCC site (http://cdm.unfccc.int/ methodologies/SSCmethodologies/publicview.html) at the landll case study site will be presented.

For the purpose of the current CDM methodology, the following denitions apply: Closed SWDS: Site that has stopped receiving waste for disposal, according to the record given by the competent authority, if applicable; Aeration: Air injection (high-pressure air enriched with oxygen at 2040% (v/v) or low-pressure ambient air) into the SWDS; Gas extraction: Controlled extraction of the o-gases and treatment during the aeration phase, e.g. by means of bio-lters; Excavation: Removal/extraction of the pre-treated MSW by diggers; Separation: Segregation of the excavated material into inert and non-inert fractions by screens or sieves with mesh size of 2560 mm; Non-inert: The fraction which passes through the screens/sieves used in the separation process; it is assumed that this portion of MSW decomposes in the baseline scenario (e.g. food, wood and paper);
Box 1.

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

Description of the applicability conditions for the development of the CDM methodology. Description The project activity cannot: recover or combust landll gas, undertake controlled combustion of the waste, treat fresh MSW and demand emission reductions from recovery and reuse inert materials contained at MSW. Otherwise other CDM methodologies must be applied. Measures are limited to those that result in emission reductions of less than or equal to 60 ktCO2 equivalent annually. Otherwise the project activity is characterized as large scale. The location, characteristics of the SWDS and proportions of the dierent types of organic waste disposed in the SWDS and treated by the project activity shall be known in such a way as to allow the estimation of the methane emissions according to the mathematical model applied. The total amount of waste deposited in the SWDS per year shall be obtained from recorded data of waste disposals, or estimated according to the level of activity that generated the waste. When compost is submitted to soil application, the place of compost application needs to be included into the project boundary and the proper conditions (i.e. handled aerobically) and procedures (not resulting in methane emissions) need to be ensured. This methodology is applicable if the aerobic pre-treatment is carried out either through high-pressure air injection enriched with oxygen 2040% (v/v) or low-pressure aeration using ambient air. Both measures shall ensure aerobic conditions during the pre-treatment phase. Sample-based monitoring in the extraction gas pipes, as well as in the monitoring wells, shall be undertaken; oxygen content shall be at least 1% (v/v) and the permissible maximum methane concentration is 5% (v/v). If enriched oxygen is used for aeration in the project activity, emissions related to oxygen production shall be taken into account. The use of the land after SWDS restoration shall be for non-commercial purposes (e.g. municipal parks) and shall not be used for a landll not equipped with methane recovery or aring. This methodology is not applicable in cases where the existing regulations require the capture and aring of the landll gas of closed SWDS. The measures are undertaken so as to comply with all local regulations, or, in the absence of such regulations, internationally accepted regulations for safety and environmental protection especially related to: re risks, nuisance and odour control, quality of runo water, nal compost contamination and risks in workplaces. This methodology is only applicable if the composting process is carried out in enclosed chambers or roofed sites; outdoor composting is not applicable due to the possible generation of runo water and consequent methane generation during waste treatment.

Applicability conditions 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11

Environmental Technology 3.2.1. Baseline emissions The CDM methodology proposal begins by calculating the baseline emissions through the application of the tool to determine the methane emissions avoided through the disposal of waste at a SWDS (BESWDS,y ). The calculation is based on a rst-order decay model, considering dierent types of waste with dierent respective decay rates and fractions of degradable organic carbon, and calculates the methane generation based on the waste streams disposed of each year of the SWDS operation. The BESWDS,y applied to the presented case study and submitted together with the CDM methodology proposal can be seen in Table 1. The decline in methane emissions after 2009 for BESWDS,y is due to the fact that, at the landll case study site, MWS was no longer accepted after March 2008, with a subsequent reduction in CH4 production. Due to this decline in CH4 emissions, which occurs when solid waste landlls are closed, CDM project developers must carefully evaluate the remaining potential CH4 emission of the landlled wastes. Thus, the mitigation of the CH4 emissions can be optimized, and the CDM project activity can be implemented at the most appropriate time. It is considered that the project activity can provide CH4 emission reductions only for the MSW fraction excavated and composted, because the aerobic pre-treatment phase (see aeration denition) alone cannot guarantee that the landlled organic matter would not continue to produce CH4 emissions. A procedure detailed in an approved CDM methodology (option b of AMS-III.E) was incorporated into the CDM methodology proposal presented herein. This procedure considers the level of excavation during the project activity, thus as the present case study estimates 4 years of project activity operation, the level of excavation will be 25% during the rst year, 50% during the second year, 75% during the third year and 100% during the fourth year. The results after the application of this procedure can be seen in Table 1, given as BEy . Also, it was noted that, in the absence of the project activity, CH4 emissions would continue to be produced over

decades, and not just until the fourth year of the project activity operation, here stated as 2012. Thus, another procedure to calculate the baseline emissions was incorporated, considering the CH4 emissions that would be produced after 2012 and until 2029, covering a further 17 years, and encompassing 21 years of emission accounting, which is exactly the maximum period covered by CDM small-scale project activity. This procedure calculates the sum of 17 years of CH4 emissions, divides the sum by the number of project activity operation years and distributes the result into the 4 years of project activity operation from 2009 to 2012. The results after the application of this additional approach are also shown in Table 1 as BEadjusted,y . 3.2.2. CDM project emissions To evaluate the CDM project emissions, three methodologies previously approved by CDM-EB were used: two small scale (i.e. AMS-III.E. and AMS-III.D.) and one large scale (i.e. AM0025). The methodology AMS-III.E. Avoidance of methane production from decay of biomass through controlled combustion, gasication or mechanical/thermal treatment, version 15 was used to evaluate CO2 emissions from waste and compost transport, and the AMS-I.D. Grid connected renewable electricity generation, version 16 was used to evaluate CO2 emissions from electricity consumed from the grid. The methodology AM0025 Avoided emissions from organic waste through alternative waste treatment process, version 11 was then used to evaluate the CH4 and N2 O emissions during the composting of organic matter. The CO2 emissions from waste and compost transport were estimated at 303 ton CO2 e/year, the CO2 emissions from grid electricity consumption were estimated at 1167 ton CO2 e/year, and N2 O emissions during the composting process were estimated at 2548 ton CO2 e/year. The CH4 emissions during the composting process were not previously considered because, according to an analysis carried out in a pilot project applying the same technology, the O2 content of the gases emitted during composting is above 10% (v/v), thus limiting anaerobic activity during the waste treatment process. 3.2.3. Emission reductions To evaluate the GHG emission reductions associated with a CDM project activity, the baseline emissions, CDM project activity emissions, and leakage emissions (Table 2) must be considered. For this last emissions category no source was identied; therefore, leakage emissions were considered null for the CDM methodology proposed. It can be observed from Table 2 that the total baseline emissions during the 4 years of CDM project operation were evaluated at 315,388 ton CO2 e/year, and the total emissions as a consequence of CDM project activity were evaluated at 16,072 ton CO2 e/year, resulting in a GHG emission

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

Table 1.

Baseline emissions for the proposed project. BECH4,SWDSy [tonCO2 e] 43,537 36,383 31,146 27,223 138,289 BEy [tonCO2 e] 10,884 18,192 23,360 27,223 79,659 BEadjusted,y [tonCO2 e] 69,817 77,124 82,292 86,155 315,388

Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total

Notes: BECH4,SWDSy , Baseline emissions according to the rst-order decay model; BEy , Baseline emissions according to the rst-order decay model and the level of MSW excavation; BEadjusted,y , Baseline emissions according to the rst-order decay model, the level of MSW excavation and the post-operation period (in the case study, 20132029).

L. Janke et al.
Table 2. Emission reductions through the CDM methodology proposed. BEadjusted,y [tonCO2 e] 69,817 77,124 82,292 86,155 315,388 PEy [tonCO2 e] 4018 4018 4018 4018 16,072 ERy [tonCO2 e] 65,799 73,106 78,274 82,137 299,316 Baseline Table 3. Summary of the methodologies applied to determine baseline emissions. Parameters BESWDS,y AMS-III.E. BEadjusted,y Ex-post method option (a) option (b) option (c) Proposal Approved version version x x x x x x x x

Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total

Notes: BEadjusted,y , Baseline emissions according to the rstorder decay model, the level of MSW excavation and the postoperation period (in the case study, 20132029); PEy , Total project emissions; ERy , Emission reductions.

Notes: AMS-III.E. = reference for the SSC methodology used to create the BEy approach.

reduction of 299,316 ton CO2 e/year during the 4 years of the proposed CDM project activity operation.

Table 4. Summary of the methodologies applied to determine project emissions. Parameters Project CO2 emissions from transport CO2 emissions from use of electricity/fuel CO2 emissions from use of O2 N2 O emissions during composting CH4 composting AM0025 IPCC default value Proposal Approved version version x x x x x x x x x

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

3.3. Application of the approved methodology After approval of the proposed methodology, the CDMapproved methodology AMS-III.AF Avoidance of methane emissions through excavating and composting of partially decayed municipal solid waste, version 01 was applied, which is available at the UNFCCC site (http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/SSCmethodologies/ approved.html), measuring the ex-ante baseline emissions, CDM project emissions and expected GHG emission reductions for the CDM project activity proposed for the landll case study. 3.3.1. Baseline emissions To calculate the ex-ante baseline emissions, the CDMapproved methodology determines the use of the approach previously described in the CDM methodology proposal (BESWDS,y ) and adds another two options to calculate BEy . However, the present application only considers the previously applied option (i.e. option B). Moreover, the approved methodology also describes an approach to calculate the baseline emissions during project activity implementation (ex-post), but this method was not used in the present research because is based on the laboratory analysis of MSW samples and is only applicable during the implementation of the project activity. Table 3 summarizes the baseline methods of the two methodologies. The ex-ante baseline emissions provided from the approved methodology can be seen in Table 1 as BEy. Once all of the baseline emissions have been included in the rst term (BESWDS,y ), the methodology developer decided to exclude the third term from the baseline procedure; this subject is discussed in a future methodology revision. 3.3.2. CDM project emissions After the Small-Scale Working Group (SSC-WG) evaluation of the methodology proposal, all of the project

Notes: AM0025 = reference for the large-scale methodology used to create the CH4 and N2 O emissions from composting process.

emissions sources were maintained except for the N2 O emitted during organic matter composting. This is due to the fact that SSC projects must be governed by the Simplied Modalities and Procedures, which require simplied project design documents, simplied monitoring plans and simplied baseline methodologies. Thus, as the N2 O emissions source is considered only for large-scale methodologies, this source was excluded from the CDM methodology proposal. A further change in project emissions sources was made, incorporating CO2 emissions when O2 is used to facilitate the composting process, because the O2 industrialization process is energy intensive. Thus, Table 4 summarizes the project emissions sources for both versions of the methodology. The application of the methodology presented herein to the landll case study only considered emissions from the transport of waste and compost and emissions associated with the use of grid electricity. There are presumed to be no emissions from O2 consumption because the use of O2 during landll aeration or composting of the organic matter excavated is not expected. Also, CH4 emissions are not expected, because the measurement taken in the composting step during the operation of the pilot project presented

Environmental Technology
Table 5. CDM project activity GHG emission reductions. BEy,ex-ante [tonCO2 e] 10,884 18,192 23,360 27,223 79,659 PEy [tonCO2 e] 1470 1470 1470 1470 5880 ERy [tonCO2 e] 9414 16,722 21,890 25,753 73,779

Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total

Notes: BEy,ex-ante , Baseline emissions according to the approved version of the methodology, which states two baseline methods, ex-ante for a preliminary evaluation, and ex-post which is only applicable during the project operation; PEy , Total project emissions; ERy , Emission reductions.

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

an O2 content above 10% (v/v). However, if the CDM project activity is implemented in the future, the parameters necessary for the evaluation of these sources which were not initially considered must be monitored. CO2 emissions from waste and compost transport were evaluated at 303 ton CO2 e/year, and CO2 emissions originating from grid electricity consumption at 1167 ton CO2 e/year, representing a total of 1470 ton CO2 e/year. 3.3.3. Emission reductions To calculate the GHG emission reductions provided by CDM project activity, the baseline emissions, CDM project emissions, and leakage emissions (Table 5) must be considered. The leakage emissions were considered to be null in the CDM methodology proposed. The baseline emissions for the 4 years of project activity operation were previously estimated at 79,659 ton CO2 e. The emissions from the proposed project implementation were estimated at 5880 ton CO2 e. As a nal result, an emission reduction of 73,779 ton CO2 e is predicted. 4. Discussion

In relation to a local specic environmental problem (i.e. partially degraded MSW in landlls) and a remediation technology used to treat this problem, it was possible to develop, propose, improve and gain approval for a CDM methodology within the sphere of the UNFCCC. Its application is valid both in developing countries, through the CDM, and in developed countries, once the Kyoto Protocol Joint Implementation uses CDM methodologies in their projects. During the development of the small-scale CDM methodology for the activities of aeration, excavation and composting of partially decayed MSW, the SSC-WG of the CDM-EB played a decisive role regarding the concept of the approved version of the proposed CDM methodology. The UNFCCC technical-administrative process was shown to be ecient in the evaluation and approval of the new SSC-CDM methodology, since at trimestrial meetings the

SSC-WG evaluated and approved the CDM methodology proposed following the research described herein in only 7 months from the submission date, providing criticism regarding the approaches initially adopted and imposing requirements regarding factors to be incorporated into the proposed CDM methodology. Such approval process time is in line with other recent submissions regarding methane emissions and MSW, such as AMS-III.AU: Methane emission reduction with adjusted water management practice in rice cultivation, AMS-III.AX: Methane oxidation layer (MOL) for solid waste disposal site and AMS-III.AJ: Recovery and recycling of materials from solid waste disposal sites, respectively rst applied at Indonesia, China and Argentina. [1618] In this context, it appears that the approach used to develop the proposed CDM methodology, which used components from another approved CDM methodology, facilitated the process of evaluation and approval of the SSCCDM methodology for the aeration, excavation and composting of partially decayed wastes. Furthermore, through the application of the approved CDM methodology it will be possible to provide environmental benets not only in terms of GHG emission reductions, but also the passive environmental remediation of the waste deposit sites, including the elimination of leachate generation, preventing contamination of the soil and underground water, which are historical problems in Brazil. [13,19] It is recognized that recycling and composting projects are poorly represented amongst all CDM projects. Composting projects only represent 9% of the UNFCCC CDM waste projects in 2010. [20,21] As the other CDM methodologies are applicable to biogas recovery (ACM0001 Flaring or use of landll gas), composting of fresh MSW (ACM0022 Alternative waste treatment process) and aeration without excavation of SWDS (AM0083 Avoidance of landll gas emissions by in-situ aeration of landlls), they produce no additional benets such as land restoration, a point that is covered only by the present CDM methodology. However, the implementation and operation costs and the benets gained from aeration, excavation and composting projects must be better understood to enable a cost-benet comparison of the GHG emission reductions achieved through applying the dierent MSW treatment techniques available for the development of CDM methodologies. As the magnitude of emission reduction is strongly inuenced by the management of fermentation residues, the development of more ecient composting techniques will aid in the development of feasible project activities with less negative cash ow for their developers, as previously observed by other authors. [2224] The results obtained with the application of dierent versions of the CDM methodology showed that the approved version presents lower baseline emissions when compared with the initially proposed version. This is explained by the fact that the approved CDM methodology does not consider the residual emissions occurring after the operation of the

L. Janke et al. recommend the development of a new procedure to calculate the term (BEadjusted,y ), making the baseline emissions more realistic and enabling the increase of CERs generation. 1. Develop a new approach to consider the residual baseline emissions during the post-operation period, improving the CER generation through the application of the CDM methodology AMS-III.AF. 2. Request a revision of the CDM methodology by the SSC-WG, adding the new approach to consider the residual baseline emissions. 5.2. Extend the application for commercial purposes As presented on Box 1 of the Section 3.1.2 (Applicability conditions), the approved methodology is restricted by the applicability condition 8, which states that the methodology is applicable only in cases where use of the land after restoration of the SWDS is for non-commercial purposes. This was necessary to guarantee that landll restoration is not undertaken solely for nancial purposes, which could enable the development of non-additional CDM project activities. Thus, the authors recommend the development of a nancial procedure to demonstrate that the use of the restored land for commercial purpose will not aect the additionality3 requirement of the CDM. 1. Develop guidelines to evaluate the nancial return through the use of the commercial area remediated by the CDM project activity. 2. Request revision of the CDM methodology by the SSC-WG excluding the applicability condition contained in paragraph 8 of version 01 and adding guidelines for the evaluation of nancial return through the use of remediated area for commercial purposes. If these revisions are approved, in the future project activities that apply the approved CDM methodology may be self-nancing, which would represent a stimulation factor, particularly in developing countries where the costs of implementing environmentally friendly technologies remain a major factor in environmental protection policy. Acknowledgements

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

CDM project activity. Meanwhile, the proposed version of the CDM methodology presents higher CDM project activity emissions than the approved version. The exclusion of N2 O emissions during the organic matter composting process in the SSC-WG evaluation explains this dierence, which directly inuences the project nancial feasibility. In quantitative terms, the present case study allowed a simplied nancial feasibility study of the CDM methodology application to be performed. It was calculated that considering the current CER2 price of 12.00, and the expected amount of emission reduction by the project activity (73,779 tCO2 e), the present CDM project proposal would have a nancial return with the CER negotiation of 885, 348 for the 4 years of project operation. Considering the annual consumption of electricity of 3750 MWh with a tari of 100 for each MWh, the operational costs of the CDM project activity is around 375, 000/year; that is, 1,500,000 during the 4 years of project operation. Furthermore, the approved CDM methodology presents an applicability condition that prohibits the use of remediated areas for commercial purposes, limiting their use to non-commercial purposes such as public parks (please see Appendix paragraph 08 of Box 1). This applicability condition has a negative inuence on the nancial feasibility of these future CDM project activities.

5.

Conclusions

Through the application of the approved CDM methodology it will be possible to obtain environmental benets regarding the historical problem in Brazil of landlls being constructed/operated without considering environmental criteria and from which methane emissions are not negligible. These environmental benets do not occur only through GHG emission reductions, but also through the passive environmental remediation of solid waste deposition sites, including the elimination of leachate production and consequent soil and underground water contamination. From the application of the approved CDM methodology it is possible to identify areas for improvement, providing conditions which could be widely applied to future project activities. The following future actions are recommended.

5.1.

Increase the CERs

CM Radetski acknowledges the CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil for fellowship BEX 0947/10-5.

As shown on Section 3.2.1 (Baseline Emissions), a procedure to account for baseline emissions beyond the operation of the project activity (BEadjusted,y ) was created and submitted to the SSC-WG. Meanwhile, the SSC-WG only accepted the procedure accounting for baseline emissions during the operation of the project (BEy ), representing fewer baseline emissions than could be demonstrated through the application of the rst-order decay model. Therefore the authors

Notes
1. Partially decayed and/or partially degraded is the MSW that was previously landlled and still under the process of anaerobic biodegradation; it is very commonly found in closed landlls because even after the landll shutdown, anaerobic biodegradation continues to produce by-products such as methane.

Environmental Technology
2. CER Certied Emission Reduction is equal to one tonne of CO2 equivalent based on the global warming potential of the greenhouse gases. One tonne of CH4 represents 21 tCO2 e. 3. A CDM project activity is additional if anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases by sources are reduced below those that would have occurred in the absence of the registered CDM project activity. This means that a project activity which would occur anyway can not be elected as CDM.

[17]

[18]

References
[1] Tschakert P, Huber-Sannwald E, Ojima DS, Raupach MR, Schienke E. Holistic, adaptive management of the terrestrial carbon cycle at local and regional scales. Glob Environ Change. 2008;18:128141. [2] El-Fadel M, Massoud M. Emissions from landlls: a methodology comparative assessment. Environ Technol. 2000;21:965978. [3] Graves J, Reavey D. A mudana global do ambiente. Lisboa: Instituto Piaget; 1996. [4] Brazil. Mudana do Clima. Volume 1. Braslia, Brazil: Ncleo de Assuntos Estratgicos da Presidncia da Repblica, Secretaria de Comunicao de Governo e Gesto Estratgica; 2005. [5] Frangetto FW, Gaznia FR. Viabilizao Jurdica do Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo no Brasil. Brasil: Instituto Internacional de Educao do Brasil, So Paulo; 2002. [6] Lopes IV. O Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo MDL: Guia de Orientao. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Fundao Getlio Vargas; 2002. [7] UNFCCC. The Marrakesh accord. Geneva: United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Changes, United Nations; 2002. [8] UNFCCC. CDM: tool to determine CH4 emissions avoided from disposal of waste at a solid waste disposal site. Geneva: United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Changes, United Nations; 2009. [9] UNEP. Waste and climate change: global trends and strategy framework. United Nations Environmental Programme. Division of Technology, Industry and Economics; 2010. Available from: www.unep/Publications/spc/Waste Climate Change/Waste Climate Change.pdf [10] Ritzkowski M, Stegmann R. Controlling greenhouse gas emissions through landll in situ aeration. Int J Greenh Gas Con. 2007;1:281288. [11] Budde W-F, Chlan P, Drrie T. Landll restoration with the Biopuster system aeration as a prerequisite for occupational, residential and environmental safety. Germany: Euroarab, University of Rostock; 2002. [12] Papageorgiou A, Barton JR, Karagiannidis A. Assessment of the greenhouse eect impact of technologies used for energy recovery from municipal waste: a case for England. J Environ Manage. 2009;90:29993012. [13] Maciel FJ, Juc JFT. Evaluation of landll gas production and emissions in a MSW large-scale experimental cell in Brazil. Waste Manage. 2011;31:966977. [14] Staley BF, Barlaz MA. Composition of municipal solid waste in the United States and implications for carbon sequestration and methane yield. J Environ Eng. 2009;10:901909. [15] Huber-Humer M, Kjeldsen P, Spokas KA. Special issue on landll gas emission and mitigation. Waste Manage. 2011;31:821822. [16] UNFCCC. AMS-III.AU: Methane emission reduction with adjusted water management practice in rice cultivation (Approved: 18 Apr 11). Geneva: United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Changes, United Nations;

[19] [20] [21]

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013

[22]

[23] [24]

2011. Available from: http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ SSCmethodologies/pnm/byref/SSC-NM063 UNFCCC. AMS-III.AX: Methane oxidation layer (MOL) for solid waste disposal sites (Approved: 28 Nov 11). Geneva: United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Changes, United Nations; 2011. Available from: http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/SSCmethodologies/ pnm/byref/SSC-NM067 UNFCCC. AMS-III.AJ: Recovery and recycling of materials from solid wastes (Approved: 29 Mar 10). Geneva: United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Changes, United Nations; 2010. Available from: http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/SSCmethodologies/ pnm/byref/SSC-NM043 Oliveira LB, Rosa LP. Brazilian waste potential: energy, environmental, social and economic benets. Energy Policy. 2003;31:14811491. Couth R, Trois C. Sustainable waste management in Africa through CDM projects. Waste Manage. 2012;32:21152125. Rogger C, Beaurain F, Schmidt ST. Composting projects under the Clean Development Mechanism: sustainable contribution to mitigate climate change. Waste Manage. 2011;31:138146. Wulf S, Jger P, Dhler H. Balancing of greenhouse gas emissions and economic eciency for biogas-production through anaerobic co-fermentation of slurry with organic waste. Agric Ecosyst Environ. 2006;112:178185. Eleftheriou P. Energy from waste: a possible alternative energy source for large size municipalities. Waste Manage Res. 2007;25:283486. El Hanandeh A, El-Zein A. Strategies for the municipal waste management system to take advantage of carbon trading under competing policies: the role of energy from waste in Sydney. Waste Manage. 2009;29:21882194.

Appendix
The preliminary application of the proposed CDM methodology in a draft PDD was submitted as described in sections A, B and C, as follows:

Section A
Title of the small-scale project activity; Description of small-scale project activity; Project participants; Technical description of the small-scale project activity, including host country, state, city and geographical coordinates; Type and technology of small-scale project activity; Estimation of GHG emission reductions during the crediting period; Information regarding public funding; Conrmation that the small-scale project activity is not a component taken from a large-scale project activity.

Section B
Titles and references of the methodologies applied to the small-scale project activity; Justication for the choice of the project category; Description of the project boundary; Description of the baseline and its development; Description of project additionality;

10

L. Janke et al.
Emission reductions, including a description of the methodological choices, data and parameters available for validation, evaluation of ex-ante emission reductions; Description of the monitoring plan; Date of completion of the application of the baseline and the monitoring methodology and the name of the person/entity responsible.

Section C
Duration of the project activity, including starting date and expected lifetime of the project activity; Choice of the crediting period, including starting date of the rst crediting period and duration of the crediting period.

Downloaded by [Leandro Janke] at 09:48 28 March 2013