The municipal solid waste (MSW) sector can make a significant contribution to achieving Canada’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% from the 2005 level by 2030.[1] The purpose of this work is to assess the potential to reduce landfill gas emissions from large Canadian MSW landfills and identify opportunities to utilize that landfill gas to further reduce GHG emissions by off-setting traditional forms of energy. The work will involve identifying and characterizing large MSW landfills (with and without existing landfill gas capture systems), assessing landfill gas capture potential and costs, and assessing landfill gas utilization potential and costs for a variety of possible uses. The work will require compilation, analysis and synthesis of individual MSW landfill assessments in terms of additional GHG reductions, cost implications and potential for energy generation. Environment Canada (EC) intends to use this information to inform the development of policies and potential risk management instruments related to landfill GHG emissions.
[1] Vancouver Declaration on Clean Growth and Climate Change, March 2016.
