News

São Paulo’s Waste Management Prospects

6 August 2008

Introduction

The City of São Paulo, as part of a greater project of reduction of greenhouse gases emissions into the atmosphere, has developed a system of methane burning from depleted landfills that generates clean energy. This system is composed, so far, by two of the largest landfills in the world: Bandeirantes and São Joao.

Aterro Bandeirantes

• Bandeirantes Landfill, located to the Northwest side of the city, is about 26km far from São Paulo and is considered one of the largest in the world.
• In the landfill there is a thermoelectric power plant that runs on biogas. This is a practical example of how clean energy can be produced by the adequate use of the methane gas that is generated from the garbage decomposition. Through that, wastes incineration can be avoided and the emission of tons of harmful gases to the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect will be consequently diminished.
• The power plant has a capacity of generating 170 thousand megawatt-hour of energy, which is enough to supply a 400 thousand people town. The landfill receives 7 thousand tons of garbage every day, which is half of all the garbage the city of São Paulo produces, and then uses the methane to generate energy.
• Technicians of the company that has the know-how in degasification of landfills and is responsible for the power plant, Biogas, say that the correct handle of the gases emitted there could reduce the emission of 8 million tons of CO2 during 15 years.
• The landfills have environmental sustainability as it does not contaminate the subterranean rivers, only the ground. After its depletion, the area is totally concealed and the landfill’s contamination levels are reduced to zero.
• Since last year, it started to receive the carbon credits foreseen by the Kyoto Protocol. In 2006, São Paulo made the largest carbon credits contract ever registered by the UN. The operation was between Biogás, the São Paulo City Hall partner, and the German bank KFW. Aterro Bandeirantes sold to KFW 1 million tons of carbon credits which will be redirected to the bank’s clients.
• In its first carbon credits auction, in the Brazilian Mercantile & Futures Exchange, the City Hall obtained R$ 34 millions. There were sold 808.450 carbon credits to a Dutch bank at € 16,20 per ton of equivalent carbon. The City Hall will use the money strictly on environmental projects.
• The project foresees the generation of 8 million tons of carbon credits until 2012. The City Hall will keep 50% of the negotiated credits.

Attero São Joao

• São Joao Landfill, located in the eastern section of São Mateus, has reached its full capacity in the end of 2007, having received almost 28 million tons of garbage. Since 1992, it has received an average of 6 thousand tons of garbage, and produced 1800 3 cubic meters per day of percolated liquid that was sent to treatment at the state water treatment plant.
• By the end of 2008, 7% of the households in São Paulo will be supplied by the energy generated at both landfills.
• The São Joao Landfill will follow the same procedures of Bandeirantes and will also generate tradable carbon credits.
• An area of environmental protection of 270 thousand square meters surrounding the landfill was created. This area is being used by the local community for environmental education programs.

Results

• With the transformation of the gas in electric energy at both landfills, the city will prevent the emission, until 2012, of a total 11 million tons of CO² to the atmosphere, which corresponds to the pollution made by 2 million oil-derivatives fuelled cars.