United States

Environmental Protection
EPA-600/R-05/047
Agency May 2005

Landfill Gas Emissions

Model (LandGEM) Version
3.02 User’s Guide
 EPA-600/R-05/047
May 2005

Landfill Gas Emissions Model

(LandGEM) Version 3.02 User’s Guide

by

Amy Alexander, Clint Burklin, and Amanda Singleton

Eastern Research Group

Morrisville, NC

Purchase Order No. 3C-R127-NALX

Project Officer: Susan A. Thorneloe

Office of Research and Development

National Risk Management Research Laboratory

Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Research and Development

Washington, DC 20460

 Abstract

The Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM) is an automated estimation tool with a
Microsoft Excel interface that can be used to estimate emission rates for total landfill gas,
methane, carbon dioxide, nonmethane organic compounds, and individual air pollutants
from municipal solid waste landfills. This guide provides step-by-step guidance for using
this software application, as well as an appendix containing background information on the
technical basis of LandGEM. LandGEM can use either site-specific data to estimate
emissions or default parameters if no site-specific data are available. The model contains
two sets of default parameters, CAA defaults and inventory defaults. The CAA defaults are
based on federal regulations for MSW landfills laid out by the Clean Air Act (CAA) and can
be used for determining whether a landfill is subject to the control requirements of these
regulations. The inventory defaults are based on emission factors in EPA’s Compilation of
Air Pollutant Emission Factors (AP-42) and can be used to generate emission estimates for
use in emission inventories and air permits in the absence of site-specific test data.

ii
 Foreword

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged by Congress with protecting
the Nation’s land, air, and water resources. Under a mandate of national environmental laws,
the Agency strives to formulate and implement actions leading to a compatible balance
between human activities and the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life. To meet
this mandate, EPA’s research program is providing data and technical support for solving
environmental problems today and building a science knowledge base necessary to manage
our ecological resources wisely, understand how pollutants affect our health, and prevent or
reduce environmental risks in the future.

The National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) is the Agency’s center for
investigation of technological and management approaches for preventing and reducing risks
from pollution that threaten human health and the environment. The focus of the Laboratory’s
research program is on methods and their cost-effectiveness for prevention and control of
pollution to air, land, water, and subsurface resources; protection of water quality in public
water systems; remediation of contaminated sites, sediments and ground water; prevention
and control of indoor air pollution; and restoration of ecosystems. NRMRL collaborates with
both public and private sector partners to foster technologies that reduce the cost of
compliance and to anticipate emerging problems. NRMRL’s research provides solutions to
environmental problems by: developing and promoting technologies that protect and improve
the environment; advancing scientific and engineering information to support regulatory and
policy decisions; and providing the technical support and information transfer to ensure
implementation of environmental regulations and strategies at the national, state, and
community levels.

This publication has been produced as part of the Laboratory’s strategic long-term research
plan. It is published and made available by EPA’s Office of Research and Development to
assist the user community and to link researchers with their clients.

Sally Gutierrez, Acting Director

National Risk Management Research Laboratory

iii
 EPA Review Notice

This report has been peer and administratively reviewed by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial
products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.

iv
 Table of Contents

Section Page
Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

List of Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

List of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Overview of How LandGEM Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1. Understanding LandGEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.1 Spreadsheet Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.2 First-Order Decomposition Rate Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.3 Software Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.4 Significant Differences Between Model Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

1.5 Differences Between the Model and AP-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2. Providing Landfill Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.1 Landfill Name or Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.2 Landfill Open Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2.3 Landfill Closure Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2.4 Have Model Calculate Closure Year? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

2.5 Waste Design Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

2.6 Landfills Accepting Waste Over 80 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3. Determining Modeling Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

3.1 Methane Generation Rate (k) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3.2 Potential Methane Generation Capacity (Lo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3.3 Nonmethane Organic Compound Concentration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3.4 Methane Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4. Selecting Gases/Pollutants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

5. Entering Waste Acceptance Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

6. Printing Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

7. Viewing and Printing Tabular Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

8. Viewing and Printing Graphical Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

9. Viewing and Printing Inventory Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

10. Viewing and Printing the Summary Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

11. Additional Information and References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Appendix A Technical Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

v
 List of Images

Image Page
1. Macro Security Warning Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2. Landfill Characteristics Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3. Model Parameters Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

4. Gas/Pollutant Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

5. Waste Acceptance Rate Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

6. INPUT REVIEW Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

7. RESULTS Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

8. Graphical Results in Units of Megagrams per Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

9 INVENTORY Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

List of Tables

Table Page
1. Worksheet Names and Functions in LandGEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2. Values for the Methane Generation Rate (k) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3. Values for the Potential Methane Generation Capacity (Lo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4. Gas/Pollutant Default Data Used in LandGEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

5. Acceptance Rate Input Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

vi
 Introduction

This document provides step-by-step guidance for using the Landfill Gas Emissions Model
(LandGEM), a software application with a Microsoft Excel interface that estimates air
pollutants and other gases from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. Using this
document, you will learn how to
• Enter landfill-specific data,
• Choose between site-specific and default model parameters,
• Estimate emission rates, and
• View and print tabular and graphical results.

Overview of How LandGEM Works

LandGEM is an automated tool for estimating emission rates for total landfill gas, methane,
carbon dioxide, nonmethane organic compounds (NMOCs), and individual air pollutants
from MSW landfills. Landfill owners and operators can use LandGEM to determine if a
landfill is subject to the control requirements of the federal New Source Performance
Standards (NSPS) for new MSW landfills (40 CFR 60 Subpart WWW), the federal Emission
Guidelines (EG) for existing MSW landfills (40 CFR Subpart Cc), or the National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for MSW landfills (40 CFR Subpart
AAAA).

LandGEM can use either site-specific data to estimate emissions or default parameters if no
site-specific data are available. LandGEM contains two sets of default parameters.

CAA Defaults—The CAA defaults are based on requirements for MSW landfills
laid out by the Clean Air Act (CAA), including the NSPS/EG and NESHAP. This set
of default parameters yields conservative emission estimates and can be used for
determining whether a landfill is subject to the control requirements of the NSPS/EG
or NESHAP.

Inventory Defaults—With the exception of wet landfill defaults, the inventory

defaults are based on emission factors in the U.S. Environmental Protection

 Agency’s (EPA’s) Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors (AP-42). This set
of defaults yields average emissions and can be used to generate emission estimates
for use in emission inventories and air permits in the absence of site-specific test
data.

The default parameters in Version 3.02 of LandGEM represent values specified by

NSPS/EG and NESHAP for determining applicability of CAA requirements. Also included
are values specified in AP-42 for developing national and state emission inventories. The
AP-42 values are being updated with new information that has been collected by EPA from
more recent field tests. In addition, research is underway to obtain data for developing
emission factors for wet/bioreactor landfills where leachate and other liquids are added to
accelerate waste decomposition.

 Section 1.

Understanding LandGEM

LandGEM is based on a first-order decomposition rate equation for quantifying emissions

from the decomposition of landfilled waste in MSW landfills. The software provides a
relatively simple approach to estimating landfill gas emissions. Model defaults are based on
empirical data from U.S. landfills. Field test data can also be used in place of model defaults
when available. Further guidance on EPA test methods, CAA regulations, and other
guidance regarding landfill gas emissions and control technology requirements can be found
at http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/landfill/landflpg.html.

LandGEM is considered a screening tool—the better the input data, the better the estimates.
Often, there are limitations with the available data regarding waste quantity and
composition, variation in design and operating practices over time, and changes occurring
over time that impact the emissions potential. Changes to landfill operation, such as
operating under wet conditions through leachate recirculation or other liquid additions, will
result in generating more gas at a faster rate. Defaults for estimating emissions for this type
of operation are being developed to include in LandGEM along with defaults for
conventional landfills (no leachate or liquid additions) for developing emission inventories
and determining CAA applicability. Refer to the Web site identified above for future
updates to LandGEM.

Appendix A provides further background information regarding the technical basis of

LandGEM and how it relates to landfill emissions, methane, carbon dioxide, NMOCs, and
air pollutants.

1.1 Spreadsheet Design

LandGEM consists of nine worksheets within a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The worksheet
names and their functions are listed in Table 1.

 Table 1. Worksheet Names and Functions in LandGEM

Worksheet Name Function

Contains an overview of the model and important notes about
INTRO
using LandGEM
Allows users to provide landfill characteristics, determine
model parameters, select up to four gases or pollutants (total
USER INPUTS
landfill gas, methane, carbon dioxide, NMOCs, and 46 air
pollutants), and enter waste acceptance rates
Allows users to edit air pollutant concentrations and molecular
POLLUTANTS
weights for existing pollutants and add up to 10 new pollutants
INPUT REVIEW Allows users to review and print model inputs
Calculates methane emission estimates using the first-order
METHANE
decomposition rate equation
Shows tabular emission estimates for up to four gases/
pollutants (selected in the USER INPUTS worksheet) in
RESULTS megagrams per year, cubic meters per year, and user’s choice
of a third unit of measure (average cubic feet per minute, cubic
feet per year, or short tons per year)
Shows graphical emission estimates for up to four gases/
pollutants (selected in the USER INPUTS worksheet) in
GRAPHS megagrams per year, cubic meters per year, and user’s choice
of a third unit of measure (selected in the RESULTS
worksheet)
Displays tabular emission estimates for all gases/pollutants for
INVENTORY
a single year specified by users
Allows users to review and print model inputs and outputs in a
REPORT
summary report

1.2 First-Order Decomposition Rate Equation

LandGEM uses the following first-order decomposition rate equation to estimate annual
emissions over a time period that you specify. The model parameters k and Lo used by this
decomposition equation are described further in Section 3.0.

where
QCH4 = annual methane generation in the year of the calculation (m3/year)
i = 1 year time increment
n = (year of the calculation) - (initial year of waste acceptance)
j = 0.1 year time increment
k = methane generation rate (year-1)
Lo = potential methane generation capacity (m3/Mg)
Mi = mass of waste accepted in the ith year (Mg)
tij = age of the jth section of waste mass Mi accepted in the ith year (decimal years, e.g.,
3.2 years)

1.3 Software Requirements

LandGEM requires Microsoft Excel 97 or a more recent version of Excel. Earlier versions
of Excel are unable to properly run the model because macros are embedded in the software.

Enable Macros—You must select Enable Macros when prompted (immediately

after opening the file) to allow the LandGEM software to use macros embedded in
the file. LandGEM has been carefully screened and is free of any viruses.

Macro Security—If you are using Microsoft Excel 2000 or Excel 2002 (within the
Microsoft Office XP software package), you must set your Macro Security Level to
Medium prior to opening the software to allow the Enable Macros option to be
selected. If your Macro Security Level is set to High when the model is opened, then
the warning message shown in Image 1 will appear, and the embedded macros
needed to run LandGEM properly will be disabled. You can adjust the Macro
Security Level in Excel by selecting Macro...Security from the Tools menu and
clicking on the Medium radio button. Although LandGEM can operate with the
Macro Security Level set to Low, this setting is not recommended by Microsoft.

Image 1. Macro Security Warning Message.

 Memory Requirements—You should have a minimum of 64 megabytes of random

access memory (RAM). In addition, you will need a minimum of 2 megabytes of free
space on your hard drive to accommodate the LandGEM software.

Read Only Feature—LandGEM has been specified as a Read Only file. You save a
copy of LandGEM under a new file name when running each landfill scenario. The
Read Only restriction is intended to protect the original file from being inadvertently
over-written. If necessary, you can remove this restriction by changing the file
properties via a file management program (e.g., Windows Explorer).

Password Protection Feature—To avoid user modifications from occurring within

the model, all of the worksheets contained in LandGEM and the Microsoft Excel
workbook itself have been password protected.

Screen Resolution—The optimum screen resolution for viewing LandGEM is 1024

by 768 pixels. To change the screen resolution, you can open the Control Panel from
the Start menu, open the Display folder, select the Settings tab at the top of the
window, and adjust the Screen resolution or Screen area option (depending on your
version of Windows) accordingly.

1.4 Significant Differences Between Model Versions

LandGEM Version 3.02 replaces Versions 2.01 and 3.01. Significant differences between
Versions 2.01 and 3.02 of LandGEM include:

• Version 3.02 uses a revised first-order decomposition rate equation that improves the
accuracy of emission estimates over time, especially for landfills being modeled
using higher methane generation rate (k) values. The equation used in Version 2.01
integrates emissions over each year, whereas the revised equation in Version 3.02
integrates emissions over a 0.1 year time increment. This revision is considered an
improvement over the previous calculation methodology. This new equation in
Version 3.02 results in slightly lower emission estimates than previous versions for
typical k values. For example, Version 3.02 emission estimates are 2% lower for a k
of 0.05 year-1 (CAA Conventional) and 1% lower for a k of 0.02 year-1 (CAA Arid
Area). Version 3.02 estimates significantly lower emissions for higher k values—for
example, 25% lower for a k of 0.7 year-1 (Inventory Wet).

 • Version 3.02 allows users to model emissions of total landfill gas, which can be
calibrated using a user-specified methane content other than 50 percent. In Version
2.01, users cannot estimate total landfill gas emissions directly and must calculate
total landfill gas off-line using methane emission estimates.

• Version 2.01 uses metric units of measure exclusively, whereas Version 3.02 allows
users to choose between several English (e.g., short tons, cubic feet) and metric (e.g.,
megagrams, cubic meters) units of measure for model inputs and outputs.

• Version 2.01 reports emissions for 200 years past closure year of the landfill,

whereas Version 3.02 reports emissions for 140 years total.

• Version 2.01 does not allow waste to be accepted in the closure year. To provide
users with more flexibility when entering inputs, Version 3.02 was changed to allow
waste to be accepted in the closure year.

• Version 2.01 contains AP-42 default values and air pollutant concentrations and
molecular weights that were current as of September 1997 (Supplement C of the 5th
Edition). Version 3.02 contains revised AP-42 default values (within the inventory
defaults), air pollutant concentrations, and molecular weights that are current as of
November 1998 (Supplement E of the 5th Edition).

• Version 3.02 incorporates inventory default k and Lo values for wet landfills (such as
bioreactors).

• Version 3.02 replaces Version 3.01 by correcting an error when av ft3/min or ft3/year
is selected as the user-specified unit in the RESULTS worksheet.

1.5 Differences Between the Model and AP-42

Significant differences between Version 3.02 of LandGEM and EPA’s Compilation of Air
Pollutant Emission Factors (AP-42) include:

• The inventory default values for NMOC concentration and several air pollutant
concentrations used in Version 3.02 of LandGEM differ slightly from those in the
November 1998 version (Supplement E of the 5th Edition) of AP-42. These minor
differences are due to rounding of the concentration values to more accurately reflect
their relative uncertainty. These rounding differences are expected to be rectified in

 an upcoming revision of AP-42 for MSW landfills because the uncertainty of the
values within the current version of AP-42 do not accurately correspond with the
inherent uncertainty of the NMOC and air pollutant concentrations.

• Due to a revision in the first-order decomposition rate equation used in Version 3.02
of LandGEM (Section 1.4), the methane generation equation (Equation 1) within
AP-42 no longer matches the equation used by LandGEM. Differences between the
two calculation methodologies are expected to be rectified in an upcoming revision
of AP-42 for MSW landfills.

 Section 2.

Providing Landfill Characteristics

Enter data on the USER INPUTS worksheet that relate to the identity and size of the landfill
being modeled.
• Landfill name or identifier,
• Landfill open year,
• Landfill closure year,
• Option to have model calculate closure year, and
• Waste design capacity.

Image 2 shows these inputs as they appear on the USER INPUTS worksheet. To clear all of
the landfill characteristic inputs, gas/pollutant selections (see Section 4.0), and waste
acceptance rate data (see Section 5.0), click on Clear ALL Non-Parameter Inputs/Selections
in the USER INPUTS worksheet. These inputs will then return to their defaults.

Image 2. Landfill Characteristics Inputs.

2.1 Landfill Name or Identifier

Use the Landfill Name or Identifier to enter a landfill’s name and scenario information (for
example, “Landfill A - Closed Cells” or “Landfill A - Leachate Recirculation Cells”). You
can also enter information about the landfill as it relates to the types of model parameters
chosen (for example, “Landfill B - NSPS/EG Conventional k Value” or “Landfill B - User-
specified k = 0.06”). Model parameters are discussed further in Section 3.0. The Landfill
Name or Identifier entry box is limited to 50 characters.

The Landfill Name or Identifier you enter on the USER INPUTS worksheet is shown in the
same location on other worksheets within LandGEM. You are not required to enter
information into the Landfill Name or Identifier entry box. The Landfill Name or Identifier
entry box is not affected by the Clear ALL Non-Parameter Inputs/Selections button.

2.2 Landfill Open Year

Landfill Open Year is a required input and represents the year that the landfill began
accepting waste. The open year should be in a four-digit year format (e.g., 2004).

2.3 Landfill Closure Year

Landfill Closure Year represents either of the following in LandGEM:
• Final year the landfill accepted waste, or
• Year the landfill is expected to reach Waste Design Capacity.

LandGEM uses the closure year of the landfill to determine the final year the landfill has
accepted or is planning to accept waste. The “permitted” closure year of the landfill does not
always represent the same year the landfill ceases to accept waste.

Landfill Closure Year is not a required input. However, if Landfill Closure Year is unknown,
then you must select Yes for the Have Model Calculate Closure Year? option, AND you
must enter Waste Design Capacity. If you enter a closure year, but still select Yes for the
option to have the model calculate closure year, then the model will disregard the closure
year you entered and automatically calculate closure year for you.

The model limits the number of years for entering Waste Acceptance Rates to 80 years (see
Section 5.0 for further discussion about Waste Acceptance Rates). If the Landfill Closure
Year entered is greater than 80 years from the Landfill Open Year entered (i.e., over 80 years
of waste acceptance), then the model will disregard the Landfill Closure Year entered and
will assign the 80th year past the Landfill Open Year as the final year of waste acceptance (or
the closure year) used by the model to estimate emissions. For example, if you enter a
Landfill Open Year of 1940, a Landfill Closure Year of 2030, and Waste Acceptance Rates
for 1940-2004, then the model will only allow Waste Acceptance Rates to be entered for
2005 to 2019 and will calculate emissions as though the landfill closed in 2019. See Section
2.6 for instructions on estimating total emissions properly for scenarios where landfills
accept waste beyond the waste acceptance limit of 80 years.

10

2.4 Have Model Calculate Closure Year?

If Landfill Closure Year is unknown, select Yes for the option to have the model calculate
closure year. The default option is No. You must enter the Waste Design Capacity if you
want the model to calculate closure year for you. Waste Design Capacity is discussed further
in Section 2.5.

If you allow LandGEM to determine the closure year, it does so based on Landfill Open
Year, Waste Design Capacity, and Waste Acceptance Rates you entered. Essentially,
LandGEM calculates the closure year by summing the Waste Acceptance Rates entered,
subtracting this “waste-in-place” amount from the Waste Design Capacity entered, and then
dividing by the final (or most recent) acceptance rate entered. The model assumes that your
final waste acceptance rate entered will continue to be the annual amount of waste accepted
until closure of the landfill or until there are 80 years of waste acceptance, whichever
scenario comes first (see Section 5.0 for further discussion about Waste Acceptance Rates).

Example 1 illustrates how the model calculates the closure year if it is unknown.

Example 1. Scenario for Unknown Landfill Closure Year

Landfill open year = 1970

Landfill closure year = ?
Have model calculate closure year? = Yes
Waste design capacity = 5,000,000 short tons
Waste acceptance rate from 1970 to 1990 = 100,000 short tons/year
Waste acceptance rate from 1991 to 2000 = 200,000 short tons/year

⎡ (Waste design capacity − ∑ (Waste acceptance rates)) ⎤

Calculated landfill closure year = ⎢ ⎥⎦
⎣ Final waste acceptance rate in 2000
+ Year of final waste acceptance rate

⎡ ( 5,000,000 short tons − 4,100,000 short tons) ⎤

Calculated landfill closure year = ⎢⎣ ⎥⎦ + 2000
200,000 short tons
= 2005

The model limits the number of years for entering Waste Acceptance Rates to 80 years (see
Section 5.0 for further discussion about Waste Acceptance Rates). If the Waste Design
Capacity has not been reached by the 80th year of waste acceptance, then the model will
assign the 80th year past the Landfill Open Year entered as the final year of waste acceptance
(or the closure year) used by the model to estimate emissions. For example, if you allow the

11

model to calculate closure year and enter a Landfill Open Year of 1960, a Waste Design
Capacity of 10,000,000 Mg, and Waste Acceptance Rates of 100,000 Mg/year for
1960S2004, then the model will calculate emissions as though the landfill closed in 2039
because that is when it will reach the 80-year limit of waste acceptance. See Section 2.6 for
instructions on estimating total emissions properly for scenarios where landfills accept waste
beyond the waste acceptance limit of 80 years.

2.5 Waste Design Capacity

Waste Design Capacity represents the total amount of waste that can be disposed of in the
landfill, or the amount of “waste-in-place” upon closure. Enter Waste Design Capacity only
when you select Yes for the Have Model Calculate Closure Year? option. If you enter Waste
Design Capacity without selecting Yes, the model will simply disregard the capacity amount
you entered.

Waste Design Capacity can be entered in metric units of megagrams or English units of
short tons. (Note: One megagram is equivalent to one metric ton.) Select the units of
measure using the drop-down menu. The default unit of measure for Waste Design Capacity
is megagrams.

Landfill gas emission factors were developed using empirical data from U.S. MSW landfills.
The composition of waste in the landfills reflects U.S. waste composition including MSW,
inert material, and other non-hazardous waste streams. If a portion of the landfill contains
primarily non-biodegradable waste (i.e., inert material), such as ash from waste combustion,
this portion may be subtracted from the Waste Design Capacity, depending upon
documentation and approval from a regulatory authority. However, this is not recommended
for sites that are typical of MSW landfills, which contain a range of waste that may or may
not be degradable. This is because the emission factors were developed relating total waste
quantity to total quantity of landfill gas.

2.6 Landfills Accepting Waste Over 80 Years

Sections 2.3 and 2.4 explain scenarios where LandGEM will implement a waste acceptance
limit of 80 years in order to estimate emissions properly. If you are modeling a landfill that
either has accepted or will accept waste for over 80 years, then multiple model runs are
required to calculate emissions for the entire waste acceptance lifetime of the landfill. You
should associate a unique file name and Landfill Name or Identifier in the USER INPUTS
worksheet for each model run to properly identify the order of the model runs (“Landfill X ­
Run 1 of 2” and “Landfill X - Run 2 of 2,” for example).

12

When the 80-year waste acceptance limit is exceeded, the INPUT REVIEW worksheet
reports the actual landfill closure year that would be reached in absence of the 80-year limit.
The additional years of waste acceptance can be modeled in a successive model run in order
to capture the total emissions from the actual waste acceptance lifetime. The METHANE
worksheet provides the waste-in-place amount at the end of the initial 80 years and
remaining waste capacity from the final year of the initial model run if you have chosen to
have model calculate closure year. These values can be used as inputs for the second model
run. Once both model runs have been completed, then the emissions on the RESULTS
worksheet from each run can be summed together by year for each gas/pollutant to result in
total emissions for the actual waste acceptance lifetime of the landfill.

Example 2 outlines a scenario for running LandGEM multiple times in order to accurately
represent the emissions for landfills accepting waste over 80 years.

13

Example 2. Scenario for Landfills Accepting Waste Over 80 Years

First Model Run Inputs on USER INPUTS Worksheet:

Landfill open year = 1940

Landfill closure year = ?

Have model calculate closure year? = Yes

Waste design capacity = 12,000,000 Mg

Waste acceptance rate from 1940 to 2000 = 100,000 Mg/year

Waste acceptance rate from 2001 to 2004 = 200,000 Mg/year

First Model Run Results on METHANE Worksheet:

Closure year (with 80-year limit) = 2019

Actual closure year (without limit) = 2030

Calculated waste acceptance rate from 2005 to 2019 = 200,000 Mg/year

Waste-in-place at start of next model run = 9,900,000 Mg

Capacity remaining at start of next model run = 2,100,000 Mg

Second Model Run Inputs on USER INPUTS Worksheet:

Landfill open year = 2020 [One year past closure year from the first model run]

Landfill closure year = ?

Have model calculate closure year? = Yes

Waste design capacity = 2,100,000 Mg [Capacity remaining from the first model run]

Waste acceptance rate for 2020 = 200,000 Mg/year [Calculated waste acceptance rate from the

first model run]

Second Model Run Results on METHANE Worksheet:

Closure year (with 80-year limit) = Actual closure year (without limit) = 2030

Total annual emissions for each gas/pollutant = (Run 1 emissions) + (Run 2 emissions)

For example, methane emissions for 2021 = 2.586×107 + 1.662×106 = 2.752×107

14

 Section 3.

Determining Model Parameters

LandGEM relies on several model parameters to estimate landfill emissions.

• Methane generation rate (k),
• Potential methane generation capacity (Lo),
• NMOC concentration, and
• Methane content.

Default values for the model parameter inputs on the USER INPUTS worksheet are shown
in Image 3. Model parameters should be selected using consistent default options. For
example, if “Inventory Conventional - 0.04” is chosen for k, then “Inventory Conventional ­
100” should be selected for Lo and “Inventory No or Unknown Co-disposal - 600” or
“Inventory Co-disposal - 2,400” should be selected for NMOC Concentration. When using
LandGEM to determine whether a landfill is subject to the control requirements of the
NSPS/EG or NESHAP, CAA defaults must be chosen for all four model parameters.

Image 3. Model Parameters Inputs.

You may select each of the model parameters from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you
may enter site-specific model parameter values other than the default values based on field

15

data or other information. Select User-specified for the model parameter for which you
would like to enter site-specific data. A User-specified value entry box will appear to the
right of that parameter and you can enter the site-specific value. User-specified value entry
boxes only appear when User-specified is selected from the drop-down menu for a particular
model parameter.

Clicking on Restore Default Model Parameters in the USER INPUTS worksheet resets all
four of the model parameters back to their default values (shown in Image 3) and removes
any user-specified values entered.

3.1 Methane Generation Rate (k)

The Methane Generation Rate, k, determines the rate of methane generation for the mass of
waste in the landfill. The higher the value of k, the faster the methane generation rate
increases and then decays over time. The value of k is primarily a function of four factors:
• Moisture content of the waste mass,
• Availability of the nutrients for microorganisms that break down the waste to form
methane and carbon dioxide,
• pH of the waste mass, and
• Temperature of the waste mass.

Use EPA Method 2E to determine site-specific k values for user-specified data. The k value,
as it is used in the first-order decomposition rate equation, is in units of 1/year, or year-1. The
five k values used by LandGEM are shown in Table 2. Arid area landfills are located in
areas that receive less than 25 inches of rainfall per year. The default k value is the CAA k
value for conventional landfills.

Table 2. Values for the Methane Generation Rate (k).

k Value
Default Type Landfill Type
year-1
CAA Conventional 0.05 (default)
CAA Arid Area 0.02
Inventory Conventional 0.04
Inventory Arid Area 0.02
Inventory Wet (Bioreactor) 0.7

16

3.2 Potential Methane Generation Capacity (Lo)

The Potential Methane Generation Capacity, Lo, depends only on the type and composition
of waste placed in the landfill. The higher the cellulose content of the waste, the higher the
value of Lo. The default Lo values used by LandGEM are representative of MSW. The Lo
value, as it is used in the first-order decomposition rate equation, is measured in metric units
of cubic meters per megagram to be consistent with the CAA. The five Lo values used by
LandGEM are shown in Table 3. The default Lo value is the CAA Lo value for conventional
landfills.

Table 3. Values for the Potential Methane Generation Capacity (Lo).

Lo Value
Emission Type Landfill Type
m3/Mg
CAA Conventional 170 (default)
CAA Arid Area 170
Inventory Conventional 100
Inventory Arid Area 100
Inventory Wet (Bioreactor) 96

3.3 Nonmethane Organic Compound Concentration

The NMOC Concentration in landfill gas is a function of the types of waste in the landfill
and the extent of the reactions that produce various compounds from the anaerobic
decomposition of waste. NMOC Concentration is measured in units of parts per million by
volume (ppmv) and is used by LandGEM only when NMOC emissions are being estimated.
The NMOC Concentration for the CAA default is 4,000 ppmv as hexane. The NMOC
Concentration for the inventory default is 600 ppmv where co-disposal of hazardous waste
has either not occurred or is unknown and 2,400 ppmv where co-disposal of hazardous
waste has occurred.

The default NMOC Concentration is the CAA value. If you use a site-specific value for
NMOC concentration, then you must correct for air infiltration. EPA Method 25C is
recommended for obtaining a site-specific concentration of NMOCs.

3.4 Methane Content

For LandGEM, landfill gas is assumed to be 50 percent methane and 50 percent carbon

17

dioxide, with additional, trace constituents of NMOCs and other air pollutants. When using
LandGEM for complying with the CAA, Methane Content must remain fixed at 50 percent
by volume (the model default value).

You may choose other methane amounts for the Methane Content using the User-specified
selection if data exist to support using another concentration. However, using LandGEM at
landfills that have methane content outside the range of 40 to 60 percent is not
recommended. The first-order decomposition rate equation used by LandGEM to determine
emissions may not be valid outside of this range.

The production of methane is determined using the first-order decomposition rate equation
and is not affected by the concentration of methane. However, the concentration of methane
affects the calculated production of carbon dioxide. The production of carbon dioxide (QCO2)
is calculated from the production of methane (QCH4) and the methane content percentage
(PCH4) using the equation

{[
QCO2 = QCH 4 × 1 ( PCH 4 100) − 1 ] }
This equation is derived as follows:

Qtotal = QCH 4 + QCO 2

QCH 4 = Qtotal × ( PCH 4 100)

[
QCO2 = Qtotal − QCH 4 = QCH 4 ( P 100)] − Q
CH 4 CH 4

QCO2 = QCH 4 × { [1 ( P CH 4 100)] − 1}

where Qtotal is the total production of landfill gas.

18

 Section 4.

Selecting Gases/Pollutants

You can choose four gases or air pollutants to be modeled at one time. The gases and
pollutants to choose from and data associated with them are shown in Table 4.

Table 4. Gas/Pollutant Default Data Used in LandGEM.

Concentration Molecular
Gas/Pollutant Notes
(ppmv) Weight
Gases
Total landfill gas Not applicable 30.03
Methane Not applicable 16.04
Carbon dioxide Not applicable 44.01
4,000 for CAA
600 for Inventory No or
NMOCs Unknown Co-disposal 86.18
2,400 for Inventory
Co-disposal
Pollutants:
1,1,1-Trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) 0.48 133.41 A
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane 1.1 167.85 A, B
1,1-Dichloroethane (ethylidene dichloride) 2.4 98.97 A, B
1,1-Dichloroethene (vinylidene chloride) 0.20 96.94 A, B
1,2-Dichloroethane (ethylene dichloride) 0.41 98.96 A, B
1,2-Dichloropropane (propylene dichloride) 0.18 112.99 A, B
2-Propanol (isopropyl alcohol) 50 60.11 B
Acetone 7.0 58.08
Acrylonitrile 6.3 53.06 A, B
1.9 for No or Unknown Co-disposal
Benzene 78.11 A, B
11 for Co-disposal
Bromodichloromethane 3.1 163.83 B
Butane 5.0 58.12 B
Carbon disulfide 0.58 76.13 A, B
Carbon monoxide 140 28.01

19

 Table 4. Gas/Pollutant Default Data Used in LandGEM (Concluded)

Carbon tetrachloride 4.0×10-3 153.84 A, B

Carbonyl sulfide 0.49 60.07 A, B
Chlorobenzene 0.25 112.56 A, B
Chlorodifluoromethane 1.3 86.47
Chloroethane (ethyl chloride) 1.3 64.52 A, B
Chloroform 0.03 119.39 A, B
Chloromethane 1.2 50.49 B
Dichlorobenzene 0.21 147 B, C
Dichlorodifluoromethane 16 120.91
Dichlorofluoromethane 2.6 102.92 B
Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) 14 84.94 A
Dimethyl sulfide (methyl sulfide) 7.8 62.13 B
Ethane 890 30.07
Ethanol 27 46.08 B
Ethyl mercaptan (ethanethiol) 2.3 62.13 B
Ethylbenzene 4.6 106.16 A, B
Ethylene dibromide 1.0×10-3 187.88 A, B
Fluorotrichloromethane 0.76 137.38 B
Hexane 6.6 86.18 A, B
Hydrogen sulfide 36 34.08
Mercury (total) 2.9×10-4 200.61 A
Methyl ethyl ketone 7.1 72.11 A, B
Methyl isobutyl ketone 1.9 100.16 A, B
Methyl mercaptan 2.5 48.11 B
Pentane 3.3 72.15 B
Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene) 3.7 165.83 A
Propane 11 44.09 B
t-1,2-Dichloroethene 2.8 96.94 B
39 for No or Unknown Co-disposal
Toluene 92.13 A, B
170 for Co-disposal
Trichloroethylene (trichloroethene) 2.8 131.40 A, B
Vinyl chloride 7.3 62.50 A, B
Xylenes 12 106.16 A, B
A. Hazardous air pollutants (HAP) listed in Title III of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.
B. Considered volatile organic compounds (VOC), as defined by U.S. EPA in 40 CFR 51.100(s).
C. Source tests did not indicate whether this compound was the para- or ortho- isomer. The para- isomer is a Title III-
listed HAP.

Concentrations, molecular weights, and notes for NMOCs and the 46 air pollutants
contained in Table 4 are from Tables 2.4-1 and 2.4-2 of AP-42 (November 1998 version).
These default pollutant concentrations have already been corrected for air infiltration, as
stated in AP-42. If you use a site-specific value for NMOC Concentration, then you must

20

correct for air infiltration.

As discussed in Section 3.3, the NMOC Concentration for the inventory default is 600 ppmv
where co-disposal of hazardous waste has either not occurred or is unknown and 2,400
ppmv where co-disposal of hazardous waste has occurred. Similarly, benzene and toluene
have different concentrations depending upon the co-disposal status of the landfill. Both no
or unknown co-disposal and co-disposal concentrations are shown in Table 4 for these
pollutants.

The molecular weight of landfill gas was estimated using a weighted average of the
molecular weights for methane and carbon dioxide. The molecular weight of 30.03
represents landfill gas as 50 percent methane and 50 percent carbon dioxide. If the Methane
Content model parameter is changed to a value other than 50 percent, then the molecular
weight of total landfill gas is adjusted to represent the appropriate methane content.

Image 4 shows where you can select four gases or pollutants on the USER INPUTS
worksheet. Each of the gas or pollutant entries can be selected from the drop-down menus.

Image 4. Gas/Pollutant Inputs.

21

The Edit Existing or Add New Pollutant Parameters button in the USER INPUTS worksheet
allows you to change the default pollutant parameters, including concentrations and
molecular weights, for any of the 46 air pollutants listed on the drop-down menus, as well as
add new pollutants and corresponding parameters. Clicking on the Edit Existing or Add New
Pollutant Parameters button lets you view and edit the default parameters for existing
pollutants in the POLLUTANTS worksheet. The default parameters shown on the
POLLUTANTS worksheet are identical to the ones in Table 4. In addition, there are entry
boxes at the bottom of the POLLUTANTS worksheet where you can enter new pollutants
and corresponding concentrations and molecular weights. The Enter New Pollutant
Parameters and Edit Existing Pollutant Parameters buttons at the top of the POLLUTANTS
worksheet help guide you through this worksheet.

The model does not allow you to edit default parameters for total landfill gas, methane,
carbon dioxide, or NMOCs, nor does it allow you to change names of existing pollutants. To
restore the default pollutant parameters for existing pollutants and remove any new
pollutants you may have added, click on the Restore Default Pollutant Parameters button in
the USER INPUTS worksheet. Clicking this button also returns the gas/pollutant drop-down
menus in the USER INPUTS worksheet to their default selections.

In the Description/Comments entry box, you can enter detailed information about the
landfill or the scenario you are modeling. The Description/Comments entry box is limited to
450 characters.

To clear all of the gas/pollutant selections (but not the pollutant parameters) and the landfill
characteristics and waste acceptance rate inputs (see Section 5.0), click on Clear ALL Non-
Parameter Inputs/Selections in the USER INPUTS worksheet. The gas/pollutant drop-down
menus will return to their default selections, as shown in Image 4. The
Description/Comments box is not affected by the Clear ALL Non-Parameter
Inputs/Selections button.

22

 Section 5.

Entering Waste Acceptance Data

Waste Acceptance Rates must be entered in the USER INPUTS worksheet for LandGEM to
properly estimate emissions. Enter annual acceptance rates for each year listed in the Waste
Acceptance Rates table from the Landfill Open Year to the current year or the Landfill
Closure Year. The Waste Acceptance Rates table is shown in Image 5. Once you enter the
Landfill Open Year, the year column of the Waste Acceptance Rates table automatically
shows the years for which acceptance rate data are needed.

Image 5. Waste Acceptance Rate Inputs.

You may enter Waste Acceptance Rates in metric units of megagrams per year or English
units of short tons per year by selecting from the drop-down menu. The default unit of
measure for Waste Acceptance Rates is megagrams per year. If you enter acceptance rates in

23

units of megagrams per year, then LandGEM automatically calculates and displays the
acceptance rates in units of short tons per year. Likewise, if you enter acceptance rates in
short tons per year, then LandGEM automatically calculates and displays acceptance rates in
megagrams per year.

The model makes the assumptions outlined in Table 5. regarding data entered in the Waste
Acceptance Rates table.

Table 5. Acceptance Rate Input Options.

If you... Then LandGEM will...

Enter acceptance rates beyond the Ignore the acceptance rates you entered past the
Landfill Closure Year you entered, Landfill Closure Year.
Enter acceptance rates through the Apply the final (or most recent) acceptance rate
current year but not up to the Landfill you entered to the years between the current
Closure Year you entered, year and the Landfill Closure Year.
Enter acceptance rates through the Apply the final (or most recent) acceptance rate
current year and choose to have the you entered to each successive year not having
model calculate closure year, an acceptance rate until the waste design
capacity is reached. A smaller acceptance rate
may be used the last year to achieve the exact
design capacity. The final year the landfill
receives waste becomes the closure year.

The model limits the number of years for entering Waste Acceptance Rates to 80 years. See
Section 2.6 for instructions on estimating total emissions properly for scenarios where
landfills accept waste beyond the waste acceptance limit of 80 years.

Landfill gas emission factors were developed using empirical data from U.S. MSW landfills.
The composition of waste in the landfills reflects U.S. waste composition including MSW,
inert material, and other non-hazardous waste streams. For a landfill that may have a portion
containing non-biodegradable waste (i.e., inert material), such as ash from waste
combustion, this portion may be subtracted from the Waste Acceptance Rates depending on
documentation and approval from a regulatory authority. However, this is not recommended
for sites that are typical of MSW landfills containing a range of waste that may or may not
be degradable. This is because the emission factors were developed relating total waste
quantity to total quantity of landfill gas.

24

To clear all entries in the Waste Acceptance Rates table, in addition to landfill
characteristics inputs and gas/pollutant selections, click on Clear ALL Non-Parameter
Inputs/Selections in the USER INPUTS worksheet. The Waste Acceptance Rates table then
returns to its defaults, as shown in Image 5.

25

26

 Section 6.

Printing Inputs

To review your inputs as they will be used by LandGEM, go to the INPUT REVIEW
worksheet. All data entered in the USER INPUTS worksheet as well as inputs determined
by the model, such as calculated landfill closure year and waste acceptance rates as they are
interpreted by LandGEM, appear on the INPUT REVIEW worksheet. Image 6 shows a
scenario where closure year is unknown.

Image 6. INPUT REVIEW Worksheet.

To print the INPUT REVIEW worksheet, select Print... from the File menu. The INPUT
REVIEW worksheet is set to print on one page. However, you may adjust this, as well as
other print settings, by selecting Page Setup... from the File menu.

27

28

 Section 7.

Viewing and Printing Tabular Results

To view emission estimates in a tabular format, go to the RESULTS worksheet. When

comparing results from LandGEM with measurements of extracted gas collected at a site,
the landfill owner or operator must adjust for air infiltration prior to any comparisons. Image
7 displays the RESULTS worksheet for the scenario shown in Image 6.

Image 7. RESULTS Worksheet.

Data on the RESULTS worksheet include

• Landfill closure year (provided on USER INPUTS worksheet or calculated),
• Methane content from USER INPUTS worksheet,
• Years of waste acceptance from open year to closure year of the landfill,
• Annual waste acceptance rates used by the model in megagrams per year and short

29

 tons per year,

• Annual waste-in-place amounts based on acceptance rates used by the model, in
megagrams and short tons,
• Annual emission estimates for the four gases/pollutants selected on the USER
INPUTS worksheet in megagrams per year, cubic meters per year, and a third
measurement unit that you may select from the drop-down menu. The third unit of
measure options are average cubic feet per minute, cubic feet per year, and short tons
per year. LandGEM uses average cubic feet per minute as the default third unit.

To print the RESULTS worksheet, select Print... from the File menu. The RESULTS
worksheet is set to print on one page. However, you may adjust this as well as other print
settings by selecting Page Setup... from the File menu.

Formatting of the values contained in the RESULTS worksheet is protected from user
modification. To adjust the number formats of the values contained in the RESULTS
worksheet, you will need to copy and paste the emission estimates into a new Microsoft
Excel file by following the instructions below:
1. Highlight cells A7 to Q149 and select Copy from the Edit menu,
2. Open a new Microsoft Excel file by selecting New... (Blank Workbook) from the File
menu,
3. Select Paste Special... from the Edit menu and click on the Values radio button in the
Paste Special window that appears.
4. You can now change the number formats of these emission values by selecting
Cells...Number from the Format menu.

It is important to note that when the Methane Content is assumed to be 50 percent by

volume (default), then methane and carbon dioxide emission rates are identical on a volume
basis (e.g., cubic meters per year, average cubic feet per minute, cubic feet per year) because
carbon dioxide is also assumed to be 50 percent by volume. However, methane and carbon
dioxide emission rates will differ from one another on a mass basis (e.g., megagrams per
year, short tons per year) because methane and carbon dioxide have different molecular
weights and, thus, different mass emissions.

30

 Section 8.

Viewing and Printing Graphical Results

To view the emission estimates in a graphical format, go to the GRAPHS worksheet. Image
8 contains one of the three graphs generated on the GRAPHS worksheet for the scenario
shown in Image 6.

Image 8. Graphical Results in Units of Megagrams per Year.

A total of three graphs are generated for each scenario, one for each unit of measure of
emissions on the RESULTS worksheet. The top two graphs are in units of megagrams per
year and cubic meters per year, respectively. The third graph represents the units you

31

selected on the RESULTS worksheet (see Section 7.0 for further discussion), which defaults
to average cubic feet per minute. The emission estimates for all four gases or pollutants are
shown on each of the three graphs using a different color to represent each gas or pollutant’s
emissions.

To print the GRAPHS worksheet, select Print... from the File menu. The GRAPHS
worksheet is set to print on one page. However, you may adjust this as well as other print
settings by selecting Page Setup... from the File menu.

Editing and formatting of the graphs are protected from user modification. To create graphs
that can be edited or formatted, you will need to copy and paste the emission estimates from
the RESULTS worksheet or the INVENTORY worksheet into a new Microsoft Excel file by
following the instructions below.
1. Highlight the cells containing the values to be graphed and select Copy from the Edit
menu.
2. Open a new Microsoft Excel file by selecting New... (Blank Workbook) from the File
menu.
3. Select Paste Special... from the Edit menu and click on the Values radio button in the
Paste Special window that appears.
4. You can now create graphs from these emission values by selecting Chart... from the
Insert menu and following the instructions in the Chart Wizard window.

32

 Section 9.

Viewing and Printing Inventory Results

To view emission estimates for use in emission inventories and air permits, go to the
INVENTORY worksheet. This worksheet allows you to view and print emission estimates
for a particular year for all gases or pollutants in megagrams per year, cubic meters per year,
average cubic feet per minute, cubic feet per year, and short tons per year. You must enter a
valid four-digit year in the designated entry box to obtain estimates for a particular year. The
inventory year entered must be between the year after the Landfill Open Year entered and
140 years past the Landfill Open Year. Image 9 displays the INVENTORY worksheet for
the scenario shown in Image 6.

Image 9. INVENTORY Worksheet.

33

To print the INVENTORY worksheet, select Print... from the File menu. The INVENTORY
worksheet is set to print on one page. However, you may adjust this as well as other print
settings by selecting Page Setup... from the File menu.

Formatting of the values contained in the INVENTORY worksheet is protected from user
modification. To adjust the number formats of the values contained in the INVENTORY
worksheet, you will need to copy and paste the emission estimates into a new Microsoft
Excel file by following the instructions below:
1. Highlight cells B5 to K68 and select Copy from the Edit menu.
2. Open a new Microsoft Excel file by selecting New... (Blank Workbook) from the File
menu.
3. Select Paste Special... from the Edit menu and click on the Values radio button in the
Paste Special window that appears.
4. You can now change the number formats of these emission values by selecting
Cells...Number from the Format menu.

34

 Section 10.

Viewing and Printing the Summary Report

To view the summary report, go to the REPORT worksheet. Information contained in the
summary report on the RESULTS worksheet includes
• A cover page showing the LandGEM title screen (pop-up introduction window that
includes the model version and date), Landfill Name or Identifier and
Description/Comments entered in the USER INPUTS worksheet, the current date,
the first-order decomposition rate equation used to estimate emissions, and a general
description of the model,
• Data contained in the INPUT REVIEW worksheet, including landfill characteristics,
model parameters, gases/pollutants selected, waste acceptance rates, and yearly
waste-in-place amounts,
• Emission estimates in graphical format, as shown on the GRAPHS worksheet, and
• Emission estimates in tabular format, from the RESULTS worksheet.

To print the REPORT worksheet, select Print... from the File menu. The REPORT
worksheet is set to print on seven pages. However, you may adjust this as well as other print
settings by selecting Page Setup... from the File menu.

35

36

 Section 11.

Additional Information and References

Additional Information
For further information regarding landfill gas emissions, please access the following Web
sites and documents:
• Rules and Implementation Information for Standards of Performance for MSW
Landfills. EPA, Technology Transfer Network, Air Toxics Website:
http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/landfill/landflpg.html.
The following topics are included on this Web site:
- Proposed and Promulgated Rules, including the NSPS/EG requirements,
- Closely Related Rules, Policies or Program Guidance,
- Technical Information, including Background Information Document
(BID)/Response to Comments, Fact Sheets, and Risk Assessment,
- Implementation and Enabling Documents,
- Emission Estimation Tools, including the LandGEM software,
- Source Identification and Location,
- Outreach and Training Materials,
- Permitting,
- Compliance and Enforcement.

• NESHAP Rule and Implementation Information for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills.
EPA, Technology Transfer Network, Air Toxics Website:
http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/landfill/lndfillpg.html.
The following topics are included on this Web site:
- Proposed and Promulgated Rules, including the NESHAP requirements,
- Closely Related Rules, Policies or Program Guidance,
- Technical Information, including Background Information Document
(BID)/Response to Comments, Fact Sheets, and Economic Analysis,
- Implementation Documents,
- Source Identification and Location,
- Outreach and Training Materials,

37

 - Permitting,
- Compliance and Enforcement.
• Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors (AP-42), Volume 1: Stationary Point
and Area Sources, 5th ed., Chapter 2.4: Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. EPA,
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. Research Triangle Park, NC.
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch02/final/c02s04.pdf.

• Use of Landfill Gas Generation Model to Estimate VOC Emissions from Landfills.
Memorandum from Y.C. McGuinn, Radian Corporation, to Susan Thorneloe, EPA.
June 21, 1988. Public Docket No. A-88-09.

• Sensitivity Analysis of Landfill Gas Generation Model. Memorandum from Y.C.

McGuinn, Radian Corporation, to Susan Thorneloe, EPA. June 21, 1988. Public
Docket No. A-88-09.

• Methodology Used to Revise the Model Inputs in the Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills Input Database (Revised). Memorandum from W.R. Pelt, Radian
Corporation, to Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Docket A-88-09. April 28, 1993.
Public Docket No. A-88-09.

• Methane Emissions from Landfills and Open Dumps, In EPA Report to Congress on
International Anthropogenic Methane Emissions: Estimates for 1990. S.A.
Thorneloe, M. Doorn, and M. Barlaz. EP A, Office of Policy, Planning and
Evaluation. Washington, DC, 1994. EPA-230-R-93-010.

• Landfill Gas Utilization – Options, Benefits, and Barriers, The Second United States
Conference on Municipal Solid Waste Management, Arlington, VA. S.A. Thorneloe.
Published in Conference Proceedings, June 3S5, 1992.

• Global Methane Emissions from Waste Management. S.A. Thorneloe, M. A. Barlaz,

R. Peer, L. C. Huff, L. Davis, and J. Mangino. Published in Atmospheric Methane:
Sources, Sinks, and Role in Global Change, NATO ASI Series, Vol. 13, 1993.

References
EPA, 1991a. Air Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. Background Information
for Proposed Standards and Guidelines, EPA-450/3-90-011a (NTIS PB91-197061), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC.

38

EPA, 1991b. Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Guidelines for
Control of Existing Sources: Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, proposed rule. Federal
Register, 56 FR 24468, May 30.

EPA, 1991c. Regulatory Package for New Source Performance Standards and III(d)
Guidelines for Municipal Solid Waste Air Emissions, Public Docket No. A-88-09 (proposed
May 1991). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC.

EPA, 1996. Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Guidelines for
Control of Existing Sources: Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, final rule. Federal Register,
61 FR 9905, March 12.

EPA, 1998. Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors, AP-42, Volume 1: Stationary

Point and Area Sources, 5th ed., Supplement E, Chapter 2.4: Municipal Solid Waste

Landfills. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and

Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC, November.

McGuinn, Y.C., 1988a. Memorandum. Radian Corporation, to Susan Thorneloe, EPA. Use

of Landfill Gas Generation Model to Estimate VOC Emissions from Landfills, Public Docket

No. A-88-09, June 21.

McGuinn, Y.C., 1988b. Memorandum. Radian Corporation, to Susan Thorneloe, EPA.

Sensitivity Analysis of Landfill Gas Generation Model, Public Docket

No. A-88-09, June 21.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1997a. Code of Federal

Regulations, Part 60, Protection of the Environment, Subpart WWW - Standards of

Performance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, Office of the Federal Register,

Washington, DC.

NARA, 1997b. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 60, Protection of the Environment,

Subpart Cc - Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste
Landfills, Office of the Federal Register, Washington, DC.

Pelt, W.R., 1993. Memorandum. Radian Corporation to Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
Docket A-88-09, Methodology Used to Revise the Model Inputs in the Municipal Solid
Waste Landfills Input Database (Revised), Public Docket No. A-88-09, April 28.

39

Thorneloe, S.A., A. Reisdorph, M. Laur, R. Pelt, R.L. Bass, and C. Burklin, 1999. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM), Sardinia
99, Seventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Published in
Proceedings, Volume IV, Pages 11S18, October 4S8.

Thorneloe, S.A. and J.G. Pacey, 1994. Landfill Gas Utilization--Database of North
American Projects, Presented at the 17th Annual International Landfill Gas Symposium by
the Solid Waste Association of North America, Long Beach, CA, March 22-24.

Thorneloe, S.A., M. Doorn, M. Barlaz, et al., 1994. Methane Emissions from Landfills and
Open Dumps, In EPA Report to Congress on International Anthropogenic Methane
Emissions: Estimates for 1990. EPA-230-R-93-010.

40

 Appendix A

Technical Background

41

Introduction
The Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM) provides an automated estimation tool
for quantifying air emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The model was
developed by the Control Technology Center (CTC) of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and can be obtained by downloading from the TTNWeb
(http://www.epa.gov/ttn/catc/products.html#software). It is also available from the National
Technical Information Service (NTIS).

Air emissions from landfills come from landfill gas generated by the decomposition of waste
in the landfill. Landfill gas is assumed by this model to be roughly half methane and half
carbon dioxide with additional, relatively low, concentrations of other air pollutants. The
following information is needed to estimate emissions from a landfill (see the Glossary of
Terms at the end of Appendix A):
• The waste design capacity of the landfill,
• The amount of waste-in-place in the landfill or the annual waste acceptance rate for
the landfill,
• The methane generation rate (k),
• The potential methane generation capacity (Lo),
• The concentration of total nonmethane organic compounds (NMOCs) and speciated
NMOCs found in the landfill gas,
• The years the landfill has been in operation, and
• Whether the landfill has been used for disposal of hazardous waste (co-disposal).

The estimation method used by the model is a simple first-order decay equation. Because
the data available for landfills (such as data on the quantity, age, and composition of the
waste in the landfill) are limited, using a more sophisticated calculation method is not
justified. The Landfill Gas Emissions Model estimates emissions of total landfill gas,
methane, carbon dioxide (CO2), NMOCs, and selected air pollutants. Information on the
assumptions used in the model can be found in the background information document (EPA,
1991a) written to support the Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources
(NARA, 1997a) and Emission Guidelines for Control of Existing Sources (NARA, 1997b)
and in the public docket (McGuinn, 1988a; McGuinn, 1988b; Pelt, 1993).

The Landfill Gas Emissions Model can be used with site-specific data for all the information
needed to generate emission estimates, or it can be used with two different sets of default
values. One set of default values (the CAA defaults) is for estimating emissions to determine
the applicability of the Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations for MSW landfill emissions,

42

specifically the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for new MSW Landfills and the
emission guidelines (EG) for existing MSW landfills. The NSPS/EG were initially proposed
May 30, 1991 (EPA, 1991b), and the final rule was promulgated on March 12, 1996
(EPA, 1996).

The applicability of the NSPS/EG to a particular landfill can be determined based on

emissions estimated using the CAA defaults in the model. The applicability of the NSPS/EG
to a particular landfill is determined in tiers. There is, first, a size cutoff (i.e., 2.5 million
tons or 2.5 million cubic meters of waste) below which landfills are not subject to the rule.
After the size cutoff, the first tier of the applicability determination is to assess whether
emissions of NMOCs exceed a cutoff value of 50 Mg of NMOCs/yr using LandGEM with
all default values set for the CAA defaults. Landfills with emissions exceeding the cutoff
value can choose to install emission controls or move to the second tier of the applicability
determination, which is to test the landfill for landfill gas NMOC concentrations. If the
revised NMOC concentrations result in NMOC emissions that still exceed the cutoff value,
the landfill can choose to install emission controls or move to the third tier of the
applicability determination, which is to perform another test to obtain a site-specific k value
(the methane generation rate constant).

The CAA default values in the model provide emission estimates that would reflect the
expected maximum emissions and generally would be used only for determining the
applicability of the regulations to a landfill. To estimate actual emissions in the absence of
site-specific data, a second set of default values (the inventory defaults) is provided in the
model. The inventory default values in the model are based on emission factors from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors,
AP-42 (EPA, 1998). The inventory default values provide emission estimates that should
reflect typical landfill emissions and are the values suggested for use in developing
estimates for state inventories.

The EPA fully recognizes that modeling landfill air emissions accurately is difficult due to
limitations in available information for inputs to the model. However, as new landfills are
constructed and operated and better information is collected, the present modeling approach
can be improved. As better data become available, including longer term data on landfill air
emissions, better modeling approaches are expected to evolve. For example, several firms in
the landfill gas industry have models for estimating landfill emissions that are regarded as
proprietary. If this information is released to the public, the EPA can use it to improve the
present emission estimation approach. In addition, as data become available through the

43

implementation of the NSPS/EG, the new data can be used to improve the modeling
calculations.

Landfill Emissions
The Landfill Gas Emissions Model estimates the emissions resulting from the
biodegradation of waste in landfills. The anaerobic decomposition of waste in MSW
landfills causes emissions of landfill gas. As landfill gas passes through the waste, it sweeps
NMOCs and other air pollutants present in the waste to the surface. The composition of
MSW landfill emissions is estimated by the model to be about 50 percent methane (CH4)
and 50 percent carbon dioxide (CO2), with additional, trace constituents of NMOCs,
although, these default percentages can easily be changed. The concentration of total and
speciated NMOCs can be estimated by the model using either default or site-specific
concentrations. The pollutant regulated under the NSPS/EG is MSW landfill emissions, but
the surrogate for measuring MSW landfill emissions for the applicability of and compliance
with the regulations is NMOCs.

The EPA has determined that emissions from MSW landfills cause, or contribute
significantly to, air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or
welfare. Some NMOCs are known or suspected carcinogens, or cause other noncancer
health effects. Public welfare concerns include the odor nuisance from the landfill gas and
the potential for CH4 migration, both on-site and off-site, which may lead to explosions or
fires. The CH4 emitted from landfills is also a concern because it is a greenhouse gas and
contributes to global climate change. It has been estimated that the United States contributed
8 to 16 Tg/yr of CH4 to the atmosphere in 1990, about 40 percent of the worldwide amount
emitted from landfills and open dumps (Thorneloe and Pacey, 1994; Thorneloe et al., 1994).
The environmental and welfare concerns associated with MSW landfill air emissions are
documented in the preamble to the proposed NSPS/EG (EPA, 1991c).

This computer model uses a first-order decomposition rate equation and estimates annual
emissions over any time period specified by the user. Total landfill gas emissions are
estimated by estimating CH4 generation and doubling it (the landfill gas is assumed to be
half CH4 and half CO2). Methane generation is estimated using Lo, the potential CH4
generation capacity of the waste, and k, the CH4 generation rate constant, which accounts for
how quickly the CH4 generation rate decreases once it reaches its peak rate. The CH4
generation rate is assumed to be at its peak upon closure of the landfill or final placement of
waste at the site. The model allows the user to enter Lo and k values derived using site-
specific test data collected at the landfill (site-specific data may be collected using the test

44

methods specified in the NSPS/EG for MSW landfills), or to use the CAA or inventory
default values.

The model estimates emission rates for total landfill gas, CH4, CO2, NMOCs, and a list of air
pollutants expected to be emitted from landfills based on test data from AP-42 (EPA, 1998).

Methane and Carbon Dioxide

The NSPS/EG require only NMOC emission estimates, but the model provides estimates of
all landfill gas constituents. Landfill gas is assumed to be half CH4 and half CO2. The model
assumes that CO2 emissions are the same as CH4 emissions and that landfill gas emissions
are twice the CH4 emissions. The generation of CH4 from a landfill is a function of k, the
CH4 generation rate constant, and Lo, the CH4 generation potential.

The CH4 generation rate constant, k, determines the rate of CH4 generation for each submass
of waste in the landfill. The higher the value of k, the faster the CH4 generation rate
increases and then decays over time. The value of k is a function of (1) waste moisture
content, (2) availability of the nutrients for methanogens, (3) pH, and (4) temperature. The k
values obtained from the data collected for the NSPS/EG range from 0.003 to 0.21 (EPA,
1991a). These values were obtained from theoretical models using field test data and from
actual field test measurements. If no user-specified k value is entered into LandGEM, a
default value is used. The default k value used by the model is 0.05 year-1 for the CAA
conventional landfills option (EPA, 1991a).

The value for the potential CH4 generation capacity of waste (Lo) depends only on the type
of waste in the landfill. The higher the cellulose content of the waste, the higher the value of
Lo. The values of theoretical and obtainable Lo range from 6.2 to 270 m3/Mg of waste (EPA,
1991c). If no user-specified Lo value is entered into LandGEM, a default value is used for
Lo. The default Lo value used in the model is 170 m3/Mg of waste for the CAA conventional
landfills option (EPA, 1991a).

Air Pollutants
Landfill gas contains low concentrations of air pollutants from the leaching and
decomposition of waste. The Landfill Gas Emissions Model can estimate emissions of such
air pollutants if users choose to do so. Emissions of air pollutants are based on
concentrations of air pollutants in the landfill gas. The model contains default concentrations
for specific air pollutant compounds. The list of air pollutants expected to be emitted with

45

landfill gas and the concentrations of these air pollutants were taken from test data in AP-42
(EPA, 1998). The default air pollutants included in the model are designated as a hazardous
air pollutant (HAP) or a volatile organic compound (VOC) with the HAP or VOC
abbreviation after their chemical names. These designations are based on EPA HAP and
VOC definitions that are current as of April 2004.

Because some air pollutant concentrations in the landfill gas are slightly higher for landfills
that have been used for disposal of hazardous waste than for those that have not, there is a
choice in the model between “Co-disposal,” (i.e., landfills used for disposal of hazardous
and non-hazardous waste), and “No or Unknown Co-disposal,” (i.e., landfills that have not
been used for disposal of hazardous waste or unknown disposal of hazardous waste). For
example, concentrations in the model for benzene and toluene are different for landfills with
hazardous waste “Co-disposal” than for landfills with “No or Unknown Codisposal.”

Landfill sites that have hazardous waste co-disposal or Superfund sites should use the co­
disposal option for estimating air pollutant emissions. In general, it is recommended that
landfill owners and operators obtain actual test data for air pollutant concentrations in the
landfill gas for their specific landfill.

Nonmethane Organic Compounds

The NMOC concentration in the landfill gas is a function of the types of waste in the landfill
and the extent of the reactions that produce various compounds from the anaerobic
decomposition of waste. To determine NMOC concentrations, NMOC data were collected
from emission test reports from industry, state, and local regulatory agencies (Pelt, 1993).
The NMOC concentrations from 23 landfills ranged from 240 to 14,300 ppmv. Three
suggested default NMOC concentrations are used in the model: one for the CAA default
option and two for the inventory default option (one for co-disposal and one for no or
unknown co-disposal). For the CAA default option, the NMOC concentration as hexane is
4,000 ppmv. For the inventory default option, the NMOC concentration as hexane for
co-disposal is 2,400 ppmv and is 600 ppmv for no or unknown co-disposal. The analysis of
NMOC concentrations in landfill gas is documented in a memorandum (Pelt, 1993), which
can be found in Public Docket No. A-88-09 and in AP-42 (EPA, 1998). Because the NMOC
concentration in landfill gas varies from landfill to landfill, collection of site-specific data
using EPA Method 25C will provide the most accurate estimates (EPA, 1991c).

46

 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Term Definition
Co-disposal Disposal of hazardous waste as well as other
kinds of waste in a landfill.
Waste Design Capacity The total amount of waste that can be
disposed of in the landfill.
Landfill Gas Landfill gas is a product of biodegradation of
waste in landfills and consists of primarily
CH4 and CO2, with trace amounts of NMOCs
and air pollutants.
Methane Generation Rate (k) k is a constant that determines the rate of
landfill gas generation. The first-order
decomposition rate assumes that k values
before and after peak landfill gas generation
are the same. k is a function of moisture
content in the landfill waste, availability of
nutrients for methanogens, pH, and
temperature.
Nonmethane Organic Compounds NMOCs are specified in this program as the
(NMOCs) fraction of landfill gas containing
nonmethane organic compounds, expressed
as hexane. NMOCs include air pollutants and
VOCs. NMOC concentration can be
measured using guidance provided by EPA
Method 25C.
Potential Methane Generation Capacity Lo is a constant that represents the potential
(Lo) capacity of a landfill to generate CH4 (a
primary constituent of landfill gas). Lo
depends on the amount of cellulose in the
waste.
Air Pollutants Compounds found in landfill gas or emitted
with landfill gas, some of which are listed as
air pollutants under section 112 of the Clean
Air Act (CAA). A total of 46 air pollutants
emitted from landfills are included in the
model.
Landfill Closure Year The year in which the landfill ceases, or is
expected to cease, accepting waste.

47