The District of Squamish has commissioned a new active landfill gas collection system and flare, located at the Squamish Landfill.
The $1.5 million project is expected to capture 75 percent of methane gas at its peak efficiency, with a 96 percent destruction rate at the flare stack.
This puts Squamish 24 percent of the way toward reaching its 2030 target, district said.
“This is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts and commitment to our Community Climate Action Plan,” says District of Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott.
“Now that this new system has been activated, we expect to eventually see up to a 75 percent reduction in our landfill’s total greenhouse gas emissions resulting from methane. This pivotal project has accelerated Squamish’s efforts in achieving our emission-reduction goals but emitting carbon dioxide over methane is only a first step. Council and staff will be looking at alternatives to flaring as this system has the potential to support renewable gas opportunities in the future.”
Landfills are a well-known significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions due to the release of methane, a gas that is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Before this new system, Squamish Landfill accounted for 20 percent of local greenhouse gas emissions.
The gas will be collected through a network of vertically drilled wells and horizontal collectors which are placed throughout the landfill. The gas is then piped under vacuum to the flare station, where it is safely flared or burned off as carbon dioxide.
