Estimating the amount of methane emissions from solid waste disposal at Kiteezi landfill
Abstract
In Kampala, most of the waste is stored in open landfills without biogas collection systems.
Methane emissions from landfills is a major contributor to greenhouse effect. Several models
projecting methane emissions from landfills have been proposed in literature. The landfill Gas
emissions model (LandGEM) is one the conventional models allowing to take into account, though
roughly, the climate and environment. By comparing model results with field measurements in
previous works, the LandGEM gave good results. Most of the studies using the LandGEM were
principally conducted in the United States or in Europe. Few studies have made use of LandGEM
in tropical areas. Kampala district and its neighbors are characterized by significant rainfall and
high humidity throughout the year. In this study, we apply the LandGEM to Kiteezi landfill, the
main open landfill of Kampala. And the findings show that the amounts of methane emissions at
the site currently will be at their maximum in 2034 with 9.558E + 03Mg/year. The study also
shows that the amount of waste received at the site is related to the truck that is the KCCA trucks
and private company truck. It further shows that the private company trucks bring in more waste
than the KCCA trucks. The study recommended the public to change their lifestyle so as to
minimize waste related emissions and this can be achieved through sensitization.