PCD Credit 5: Landfill Emissions Minimization (1-3 points)

Reciprocal

Intent:

To effectively manage and minimize emissions from landfills, including air emissions and leachate in order to prevent or reduce air contamination and surface and groundwater contamination.

Local Government and Industry Requirements:

Implement the policies and programs outlined in SMMP Credit 5. Demonstrate that emissions permit requirements are being met.

Air Emissions: (1-2 points). 

Tier One: (1 point)

• Measure and document greenhouse gas, criteria air pollutants and hazardous air pollutants emissions with the best available technology that captures emissions/leakages throughout the entire system.

• Landfills with energy recovery systems must document methane leaks and GHG, criteria air pollutants and HAPs emissions as a result of the LFG recovery systems. Documented data must be provided to SWEEP. If document leaks exceed the national average of leaks for flaring of LFGs, the credit will not be given. 

• Implement a control system designed and operated to:
  • Reduce non-methane organic compounds by 98 percent by weight, or,
  • When an enclosed combustion device is used for control,
    • To either reduce NMOC by 98 percent by weight or
    • to reduce the outlet to less than 20 parts per million by volume, dry basis as hexane at 3 percent oxygen.

The reduction efficiency or parts per million by volume shall be established by an initial performance test to be completed no later than 180 days after the initial startup of the approved control system using the test methods specified in § 60.754(d).      

Tier Two: (1 point)

• Measure and document greenhouse gas, criteria air pollutants and hazardous air pollutants emissions with the best available technology that captures emissions/leakages throughout the entire system.

• Landfills with energy recovery systems must document methane leaks and GHG emissions as a result of the LFG recovery systems. Documented data must be provided to SWEEP. If document leaks exceed the national average of leaks for flaring of LFGs, the credit will not be given.

• Implement a control system that uses no-burn technology OR fuel cell technology that is designed and operated to:
  • Reduce non-methane organic compounds by 98 percent by weight, or,
  • When an enclosed combustion device is used for control,
    • to either reduce NMOC by 98 percent by weight or
    • to reduce the outlet to less than 20 parts per million by volume, dry basis as hexane at 3 percent oxygen.

The reduction efficiency or parts per million by volume shall be established by an initial performance test to be completed no later than 180 days after the initial startup of the approved control system using the test methods specified in § 60.754(d).

Water Emissions: (1 point)

• Implement PCD Stormwater Management Credit

• The landfill has no outstanding violations of existing permitted landfill effluent emission limits including:
  • Discharges from wastewater treatment facilities handling the leachate.
  • Groundwater and surface water pollutant concentration limits.

• The landfill has an effective leachate management system, which includes:
  • Operational practices that prevent water from penetrating the landfill cap in the first place
  • Methods of measuring leachate volumes, concentration and composition
  • Leachate collection and diversion infrastructure.
  • Effective methods of processing leachate (on-site or off-site)
  • Regular testing of groundwater and surface water for the presence of leachate compounds.
  • Remediation plan in the case of leakage.

Potential Strategies

• Regularly monitor landfill gas collection, flaring emissions and leachate management systems.
• Creation of methyl alcohol as an industrial feedstock
• Creation of dry ice from CO2