Landfills seem to be a major part of waste disposal life. Love them or hate them, they are a necessity in dealing with ever increasing amounts of waste. Statistics Canada reported that Canadians threw out about 20 per cent more garbage in 2004 compared to 2000, bringing per-capita output to 418 kilograms a year. On the whole, nearly everyone would rather do without landfills, and if we have to have them, people want them as far away as possible. A landfill is a site where waste materials are buried, and it is one of the oldest ways of managing waste. Although the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) gives emphasis to the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), and diverted about 3 million tonnes of waste in 2005 through the 3Rs, landfilling still remains an essential component of waste management (Ministry of the Environment). Landfills also are controversial because of the major environmental issues concerning the gas emitted to air by organic waste through natural biodegradation. The major parts of landfill gas are methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) (Jenish, 1997, 11). Methane is of particular concern as it is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 21 times that of carbon dioxide (Jenish, 1997, 11). The methane stock in the municipal waste stream includes food wastes and yard wastes (referred to as the organic fraction and generally regarded as being about 30% of the municipal solid waste stream) (Jenish, 1997, 12). It also includes many other materials which are capable of providing carbon to support methanogenesis, such as paper, cardboard and diapers (Jenish, 1997, 11). Many of these materials have been landfilled in the past and probably still are being landfilled, particularly if diversion programs do not capture all of these materials (Jenish, 1997, 12).
[...] Gold from Landfill Gases: making Regulation pay off for both Municipalities and for Third Party Companies Many Ontario municipalities have expressed concerns about the proposed timing and costs of the new regulations for landfill gas, especially where retrofit is required (Ontario Waste Management Association, 2007).[60] Many municipalities also prefer a voluntary, rather than regulated approach (Ontario Waste Management Association, 2007).[61] The sale of carbon credits should provide revenue to offset the costs. However, carbon credits may not be available for GHG reductions that are required by regulation (Ontario Waste Management Association, 2007).[62] The regulation approach as “currently proposed in Ontario would effectively eliminate the trading of emission credits and the significant financial benefit that offsets the cost of gas collection and utilization infrastructure and encourages innovation and maximum GHG recovery” (Ontario Waste Management Association, 2007).[63] This is a critical issue for both existing landfills already collecting GHG and trading in emission credits, and the additional landfill facilities that will be captured by the new 1.5 million cubic meter capacity threshold (Ontario Waste Management Association, 2007).[64] Canada still does not have a regulatory regime for emission reduction credits, although many industry observers feel that there will be one eventually. [...]
[...] Waste Management expands renewable energy program to develop landfill gas to energy projects. (2008, October 1). Retrieved from: http://www.zibb.com/article/4077955/Waste+Management+expands+renewable+energ y+program+to+develop+landfill+gas+to+energy+projects CBCNews.ca. Ontario unveils greenhouse targets. (2007, June 18). Retrieved from: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/06/18/greenhouse-070618.html City of Toronto. Waste Diversion Programs. (2008). Retrieved from: http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/programs.htm. CTV.ca. Canadian landfills look to make cash from trash (2007, August 12). Retrieved from: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/mobile/CTVNews/20070812/garbage_cash_0 70812/ Environment Canada. A Primer for Trading Greenhouse Gas Reductions from Landfills. (2000). Retrieved from: http://www.ec.gc.ca/wmd- dgd/default.asp?lang=En&n=E67C32AF-1 Environment Canada. Landfill Gas Management in Canada. [...]
[...] Landfill Gas Regulations: Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation. (2008, May). Retrieved from: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/landfill_gas/index.htm British Columbia Ministry of Environment. B.C. Landfill Gas Regulations: Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation. (2008, May). Retrieved from: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/landfill_gas/index.htm British Columbia Ministry of Environment. B.C. Landfill Gas Regulations: Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation. (2008, May). Retrieved from: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/landfill_gas/index.htm British Columbia Ministry of Environment. B.C. Landfill Gas Regulations: Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation. (2008, May). Retrieved from: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/landfill_gas/index.htm Simpson, Scott. (2008, April 22). Methane Gas: Problems and Business Opportunities. [...]
[...] Landfill Gas Regulations: Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation. (2008, May). Retrieved from: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/landfill_gas/index.htm Simpson, Scott. (2008, April 22). Methane Gas: Problems and Business Opportunities. The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved from: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=1724576a- b300-4469-82d2-31acebf2e004&k=13776 British Columbia Ministry of Environment. B.C. Landfill Gas Regulations: Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation. (2008, May). Retrieved from: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/landfill_gas/index.htm British Columbia Ministry of Environment. B.C. Landfill Gas Regulations: Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation. (2008, May). Retrieved from: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/codes/landfill_gas/index.htm British Columbia Ministry of Environment. B.C. Landfill Gas Regulations: Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation. [...]
[...] Policy & Legislation Impetus: Federal and Provincial “drivers” There are “drivers” for legislation aimed at achieving specific greenhouse gas reduction goals, both at the federal and provincial level in Canada. Federally, the Canadian government, since the 1997 Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has been committed to reduction targets and a timetable for six greenhouse gases (Environment Canada, 2000).[12] Upon ratification, the Protocol commits Canada to a greenhouse gas reduction of 6 per cent below 1990 levels in the period 2008-2012 (Environment Canada, 2000).[13] Even though Canada may not ratify the Protocol, Canada recognizes that it has to reduce its domestic greenhouse gas emissions to help slow the phenomenon of global warming leading to climate change (Environment Canada, 2000).[14] Landfill gas capture and destruction (flaring or utilization) has been singled out as making a potentially significant contribution to meeting this target (Environment Canada, 2000). [...]
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