Methane Emissions from Landfills Sites and Their Contribution to Global Climate Change in the Greater Lomé Area of Togo (West Africa)

Abstract

This study was carried out in the city of Lomé in Togo. The study looked at the contribution of illegal waste landfills to climate change. The focus was on the quantities of methane released by uncontrolled landfills. In order to achieve the objectives, set by this study, the quantity of methane was recorded at twenty (20) landfills in thirteen (13) localities using microsensors over a period of thirty-two (32) days. The measurements were taken at the landfills with the measuring device stationed in the middle of the landfill at a height of 25 cm above the waste. The data collected was processed and a probability diagram was drawn up, making it possible to assess whether or not a set of data follows a given distribution such as the normal or Weibull distribution. Similarly, the contribution of each of the landfills to climate change was determined. During the measurement period, it was found that the TOGBLEKOPE 2 (6.338 g/m3 ± 4.881) with a contribution of 133.09; AMOUTIEVE (5.565 g/m3 ± 2.889) with a contribution of 116.86; ADETIKOPE GUERINKA (5.56 g/m3 ± 2.123) with a contribution of 116.76; GBOSSIME (5.323 g/m3 ± 4.442) with a contribution of 111.78; HOUNBI (4.702 g/m3 ± 3.59) with a contribution of 98.742; ADETIKOPE KPETAVE (4.363 g/m3 ± 2.841) with a contribution of 91.62 and NYEKONAKPOE 2 (4.017 g/m3 ± 3.067) with a contribution of 84.357; release more methane into the atmosphere. This shows the contribution of landfill sites in the fight against climate change.