The GPI Sustainable Transportation Accounts for Nova Scotia:Halifax Regional Municipality component

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) will assess and recommend the most viable landfill gas (LFG) recovery technologies for minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at both its existing and future landfill facilities. Because of the burgeoning Alberta oil sands industry, the RMWB is experiencing enormous growth with municipal solid waste likely to increase from approximately 50,000 tonnes/year in 2006 to over 70,000 tonnes/year in 2022. The existing landfill, with no LFG management system in place, is scheduled to close in December 2008 and construction of a new facility is expected to begin in November 2006. The study includes LFG production assessments, data analysis, LFG technology management recommendations, and planning and pre-design of a full-scale facility for each site. In addition, it includes public education and and outreach program. Based on conservative LFG estimates for both sites averaged over 50 years, and a conventional LFG recovery efficiency of 70 percent, GHG emissions reductions could be achieved of 44,415 tonnes/year as carbon dioxide equivalents by the implementation of LFG technology at both landfills. Because the RMWB strives for a zero-emission landfill operation, project implementation will aim to reduce LFG emissions by nearly 100 percent through the capture and further destruction of LFG. Preliminary estimates of the LFG emissions from both sites also support the potential for 1 megawatt of electrical energy production over 40 years. This power generation potential would displace 3,793 tonnes of coal or 700,000 m3 of natural gas annually.