Estimation of Methane Emission Potentials in Landmark University Open Dump Site, Omu-Aran, Kwara State Nigeria
1*Oladejo, O. S, 2Elemile, O.O., 1Abiola, A. O. and 1Olanipekun, A. A,
1Department of Civil Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
2Department of Civil Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
*Correspondence Author: osoladejo@lautech.edu.ng 08035770398
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/0202/50(0160)
Abstract
Most of the increasing quantity of wastes in institutions of higher learning, are disposed of through open dumping. The decomposition of these wastes has been identified to be a source of methane emissions. This study estimated methane emissions from the open dumpsite in Landmark University. An exploratory study design was adopted. The study involved physical characterization of solid wastes at the Landmark University for a period of three months and the estimation of methane emission potentials of the dumpsite for the years 2011 to 2031 using IPCC Default Method (DM) and the Landfill Gas Emission (LandGEM) Model Version 3.02.The study revealed the percentage composition of waste to be 48, 16, 12, 10, 5 and 3% for plastics, garden trimmings, paper, metal, food waste and textile respectively. The maximum methane emission is 11.65 and 2.48 Mg/year for DM and LandGEM respectively in the year 2021 while the methane emissions will decline to 7.06 and 1.50 Mg/year for DM and LandGEM respectively in the year 2031. The contribution of methane emissions in the University is still little as reflected in the values of 11.65 and 2.48 Mg/year although there is a tendency to increase as population increases. Further studies should be carried out to provide methane specific properties of the solid waste generated in Omu-Aran in order to build an inventory of methane emission parameters.
Keywords: Solid waste Characterization, Methane emissions potentials, Open dump site, Landmark University