The present practice in all Brazilian sanitary landfills is to collect and burn the gas only through a passive ventilation system, with no systematic and monitored firing.  Methane is naturally emitted to the atmosphere through drains, and part of the gas is destroyed due to odor and security issues. This practice is one of the most onerous to the environment, especially as far as the amplification of greenhouse effect emissions.

The situation, though, can be changed. It is possible to implement a CDM project to capture and burn the biogas produced in the landfills, avoiding the emission of methane to the atmosphere, and, consequently, generating carbon credits.

The elaboration of a CDM project in this segment will necessarily involve the development of a net for collecting gas and of a firing system. The system can use or not the existing gas drains, where the drains will be connected to the main collecting net, which transports the gas to the flares. A blower can be installed to increase the quantity of colleted gas.  There is also the possibility of generating energy from this same gas.

Thus, through the adjustment of the landfill physical installations (cells / gas collector system / burners / effluent treatment process) and the installation of an electrical energy generator system that uses methane gas, it is possible to obtain the following benefits:

• Operating a sanitary landfill within the sustainability concept, minimizing operational costs and maximizing social and environmental benefits;

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (methane) generated with landfill operations;

• Generation of electrical energy thorough production of biogas in the sanitary landfill;

• To supply electrical energy for the functioning of equipment and vehicles in the landfill itself;

• To supply electrical energy for the functioning of equipment used in the recycling activities to be operated by low income communities;

• To commercialize carbon credits, according to the Kyoto Protocol, obtained with the project validation at the United Nations Organization.

The enterprise’s (and investment’s) viability will always depend directly on the quantity of waste received by the landfill, and, consequently, from the quantity of carbon credits generated. JMalucelli & CMC Ambiental has the condition of reuniting investors, technology providers, engineers and consultants, which allows them to offer sanitary landfills owners and operators a complete and integrated solution, besides generating great additional income from the sale of carbon credits.

Thus, JMalucelli & CMC Ambiental´s teamis prepared to help the client in the conception and elaboration of a CDM project in sanitary landfills as well as in the certification process according to the Kyoto Protocol. Even more, specially in this kind of project, they are prepared to help with the financial structure itself, with the possibility of promoting an anticipated sale of future carbon credits, for the  amortization of costs of the engineering process, the necessary equipment, the civil constructions, and the certification process.