The application and development of country-specific parameters for accurate estimations of methane emissions from solid-waste disposal sites

Abstract

To identify the application and development of country-specific parameters for methane emission estimations from solid-waste disposal sites, National Inventory Reports of 41 Annex I countries and National Communications of ten non-Annex I countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change were analyzed. A first-order decay method was applied to 38 out of 41 Annex I countries and to five out of ten non-Annex I countries in national GHG inventory submissions up to 2012. Country-specific parameters were approximately 26 % of the total number of parameters used in the 38 Annex I countries and were mostly developed for degradable organic carbon and reaction constants that cover certain waste compositions. The UNFCCC encourages countries to develop more country-specific parameters reflecting the distinct characteristics of each country in which solid-waste disposal site is a key source. Depending on a country’s condition, a stepwise approach regarding the development of country-specific parameters needs to be done so as to improve the accuracy of methane emission estimates in the solid-waste disposal site category.