LAHORE: The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has successfully launched its first gas flaring project at its dumpsite Mahmood Booti on Ring Road.

The 320-kanal site has already exhausted its capacity by attaining the height of about 80 feet from the ground level. It was closed in April 2016.

According to a spokesman for the company, approximately 13.14 million tons of waste was dumped at Mahmood Booti from 1998 to 2016.

The biodegradable fraction of dumped waste is 55 to 60 per cent. The company launched plantation on the front façade of dumpsite f acing Ring Road as a pilot project. Till now 14,500 plants of dif ferent species have been planted at front elevation covering an area of about 20,000m2.`The company has taken an initiative to assess the dumpsite gas potential on south eastern side of Mahmood Booti Dumpsite. During the trial, methane gas from four identified gas vents, already installed at dumpsite, was collected and tr ansported through 900 feet long gas pipeline to one point for testing and flaring. For demonstration, the LWMC has installed a two-burner stove and a gas lamp in allied office to flare the gas round the clock,` the spokesman explained.

He said the methane gas has 56 times of global warming potential for 20 years and 21 times for 100 years more than carbon dioxide (CO2). A single tree can absorb CO2 at a rate of (21.7kg) 48 lb. per year. The gas vents installed at dumpsite are releasing approximately 1cubic meter gas in 24 hours which is almost equal to eight kg CO2/day and 2920 kg CO2/year. This means by flaring only 365m3/year MethaneGas, the LWMC will protect environment same as done by 138 trees in one year.

`It is estimated the dumpsite has potential to supply the combustible gas for at least seven to 10 years. There are some possible opportunities for dumpsite gas utilization like collected dumpsite gas can be supplied to autoclave f acility as a substitute of Natural Gas for steam generation through a boiler. The generated steam would then be utilized for sterilization of hospital waste,` he said.

The collected dumpsite gas can be supplied to the LWMC`s nearby f acility to fulfill its electricity needs. Dumpsite gas after treatment and purification can be utilized as a substitute fuel of CNG in vehicles. `It can also be supplied to nearby industries for power generation or heating purposes. And the company has started initial work for this plan,` he added.