The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has launched its first ever gas flaring project at Mahmood Booti, that is the oldest dump site located at Ring Road, operational from 1998.
The estimated area of dumpsite is around 320 kanals. This site has exhausted its capacity and attained the height of about 80 feet from ground level; therefore the dumping was closed in April 2016. According to an estimate, approximately 13.14 million tonnes of waste have been dumped at Mahmood Booti. The biodegradable fraction of dumped waste is 55 percent to 60 percent.
During the trial project, gas from four identified gas vents already installed at the dumpsite were collected and transported through 900 feet long gas pipeline to one point for testing and flaring. Since June 13, 2018, the dumpsite gas is continuously captured and flared on daily basis. For demonstration, the LWMC has installed necessary apparatus including a two-burner stove and a gas lamp in allied office to flare the gas round the clock. It is pertinent to mention that methane has 56 times global warming potential for 20 years and 21 times for 100 years more than carbon dioxide (CO2).
A spokesperson said that a single tree can absorb CO2 at a rate of 48 pounds per year. The gas vents installed at the dumpsite are releasing approximately 1 cubic metre gas in 24 hours which is almost equal to 8 kilogramme CO2 per day and 2,920kg CO2 per year. This means by flaring only 365m3/year methane gas, LWMC is protecting the environment same as done by 138 trees in a year’s time.
He said that it is estimated that the dumpsite has potential to supply the combustible gas for at least the next seven-10 years. There are some possible opportunities for dumpsite gas utilisation like collected dumpsite gas can be supplied to autoclave facility as a substitute of natural gas for steam generation through a boiler. The generated steam would then be utilised for sterilisation of hospital waste.
Moreover, the collected dumpsite gas can be supplied to LWMC nearby facility to fulfil its electricity needs. Dumpsite gas after treatment and purification can be utilised as a substitute fuel of compressed natural gas in vehicles. The dump site gas can also be supplied to nearby industries for power generation or heating purposes. LWMC has started the initial work for this plan, he added.
Published in Daily Times, September 13th 2018.