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CBJ GHG Monofill Final
CBJ GHG Monofill Final
Biosolids Treatment and Disposal Evaluation–Phase II
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Projection for Biosolids
Monofilling Alternative
PREPARED FOR: City/Borough of Juneau (CBJ), Alaska
1.1 Introduction
The purpose of this Memorandum is to respond to request from CBJ to estimate the GHG emissions
associated with a new alternative to dispose of CBJ’s biosolids at a dedicated biosolids landfill, also known
and referred to in this Memorandum as a biosolids monofill. The GHG emission estimate for a biosolids
monofill is provided herein and compared to the estimates of GHG emissions for the other alternatives
evaluated as part of the Phase II Biosolids Treatment and Disposal Evaluation.
A monofill is constructed for the sole purpose of storing biosolids at a dedicated disposal site. The federal
regulations for disposal of biosolids in a monofill are codified in 40 CFR Part 503 under the requirements for
Surface Disposal and are summarized herein. The State of Alaska would likely impose additional
requirements on surface disposal of biosolids, but Alaska regulations governing surface disposal of biosolids
are not addressed in this memorandum.
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GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) PROJECTION FOR BIOSOLIDS MONOFILLING ALTERNATIVE
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Table 2
Estimated Annual GHG Emissions (Carbon Footprint) of Prior Alternatives and Biosolids Monofill Alternative
1‐ Continue current practice of shipping and 3,400*
disposing of biosolids to in an Oregon landfill
2‐ Thermal Dryer Fueled by No. 2 Heating Oil 1,900
3‐ Thermal Dryer + Combustion for Energy 980
Recovery and Heat Source for Drying
4‐ Direct Combustion via Fluidized‐Bed 1,200
Incinerator (FBI)
5‐ Hauling of Biosolids to a Local Monofill 2,600
for Disposal
*The GHG emissions estimate for Alternative 1 in TM 1 was revised based on review and correction of transportation
routes and distances.
The difference between the GHG emissions estimate for monofilling and the estimate for CBJ’s current
practice of shipping and hauling biosolids to an Oregon landfill is due to shorter transportation distances for
hauling to a local monofill compared to shipping and hauling to the Oregon landfill. As shown in Table 2, this
difference results in GHG emissions for a biosolids monofill being approximately 800 Mg/year lower than
CBJ’s current biosolids disposal practice. However, the GHG emissions estimate for monofilling is still
considerably higher than the other three alternatives previously evaluated, as shown in Table 2.
There are several factors that could substantially change the GHG emissions estimate for monofilling,
primarily related to how the monofill is constructed and operated. The largest variables in estimating GHG
emissions from a landfill or biosolids monofill concern the amount and rate of methane generation from
decay of organic material, how much of the methane escapes through soil, and the integrity of systems built
to capture and generate energy from the landfill or monofill.
The GHG emissions estimate for monofilling for CBJ is based on the same basic assumptions that apply to
CBJ’s current practice of landfilling biosolids. It is assumed that gas collection wells and piping will be
installed in the monofill that will capture about half of the methane generated and direct it to a gas flare,
which will burn the methane and convert it to carbon dioxide. Several studies have shown that landfill gas
collection and flaring systems typically remove about half of the methane generated, and the other half will
escape as a methane GHG emission. If the captured gas is directed to energy‐recovery equipment such as an
engine or heat‐recovery furnace, then the GHG emission estimate for monofilling shown in Table 2 could be
reduced.
There are a number of regulations associated with monofilling (surface disposal) of biosolids. The following
section summarizes federal regulations related to surface disposal, as excerpted from TM 1 – Data Review
and Regulatory Outlook for CBJ Biosolids Alternatives (CH2M, 2014).
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GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) PROJECTION FOR BIOSOLIDS MONOFILLING ALTERNATIVE
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requirements do not have to be satisfied. The CBJ’s biosolids meet the specified pollutant limits, but do not
meet all pathogen and vector reduction criteria. Therefore, daily cover for the surface disposal site would be
necessary for any surface disposal site in Juneau to minimize any pathogen and vector attraction concerns.
As indicated above, the ADEC would impose additional siting, permitting, and monitoring requirements on
any local monofill or other surface disposal site for biosolids in the State of Alaska. Determination of ADEC
regulatory impacts would require a review of current ADEC regulations as well as dialogue with ADEC
officials, which is beyond the scope of this memorandum.
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