Landfill Gas FAQs
Welcome to the Landfill Gas Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs page). We have tried to answer the most common questions visitors to this site may have. If you find that your question is not answered on this page, please email us at FAQ@landfill-gas.com with your question. We will do our best to answer it.
Q: What is landfill gas?
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Note: Flare type obsolete in UK
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A: Landfill gas is produced by natural biological activity in any landfill which contains sufficient putrescible matter to cause methane producing (methanogenic) conditions. It usually comprises
40 to 65% methane.
Q: Why is landfill gas considered to be a greenhouse gas, and implicated in global warming?
A: Landfill gas contains a large proportion of methane. Methane is strongly implicated in the "Greenhouse Effect", which theory suggests is causing global warming.
Q: What are the major dangers from landfill gas?
A: Landfill gas dangers can be classified as Physiological and Physical.
Physiological dangers to health, exist from:
Landfill gas asphyxiation - caused by displacement of oxygen from air, nausea and intoxication. Displacement can be by both methane itself, or by the carbon dioxide formed by biological oxidation of methane.
Landfill gas also presents the risk of local environmental damage where it may migrate from the waste into the soils above and around a landfill, and damage vegetation.
Physical dangers exist from:
Danger of explosion through the formation of methane-air mixtures, within the explosive limits of methane (5 to 15 % by volume of methane in air). Such risks exist if underground chambers, sewers, drains, or other pipelines and ducts etc are routed above or near gassing landfills. Buildings or other enclosed or confined spaces should not be built on or close to such landfills, unless great care is taken during their design, in landfill gas hazard risk prevention.
Fires, caused through the flammability of the landfill gas.
Q: What are the CO2 emissions reduction targets, and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme?
A: Many natural and human-made gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere (greenhouse gases), which are accepted to be the cause of global climate change. Combating climate change is one of the most serious environmental challenges that we face as the effects are wide-ranging across the globe, and include social, economic and environmental effects. The Government and the international community recognise the challenge and the responsibility we have to combat this. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) established legally binding emissions reductions for developed countries, and under this as part of the EU, the UK has a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2012. The UK Government has also set a domestic goal of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions below 1990 levels by 2010. In order to achieve these targets, the Government has put in place a package of measures under the UK Climate Change Programme. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme forms part of this programme.
Q: Where can I find UKPS and/or Pipeline Services?
UKPS and a company trading as Pipeline Services - both being past well known UK Landfill Gas contractors - are no longer trading. A company which had links with UKPS is Organics.
If you haven't found your answer yet, click here to download a Word™ document with further landfill gas information.
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