This webinar was focused on the APAC region, which includes Australia and New Zealand. The presenters indicated some of the major issues with landfills: odor, local air quality, local water pollution, dust, and greenhouse gas emissions. For all of those concerns, the parameters need to be tracked. Odor control, emissions monitoring, and community engagement are important considerations. They noted that the waste management industry is a combination of private and public entities.
Capacity constraints of
existing and near-full landfills are an ongoing issue. More and better data
collection and analysis are leading to improvements. AI is helping. There are
new technologies to improve operational efficiency and address environmental
concerns. Air quality, dust, odor, mitigation, and power generation data are
needed. Monitoring is key to identifying issues. Integrating data with weather
parameters is important. Early warning systems are a step above passive
monitoring. The industry is trending toward low-cost sensors for data
collection. The cost is low enough for continuous monitoring. Operators can
then use data analytics such as AI to inform decisions. A denser network of
data means better and faster identification of problems such as methane leaks.
Lower-cost monitoring devices now allow for a denser data network and better
monitoring. Problems are identified faster and better.
Applying for extensions to existing
facilities vs. building a new one is something that comes up often. In general,
there is local public opposition to new greenfield sites for landfills. They
note that both community expectations and environmental regulations tend to get
more stringent over time. (That may be changing in the U.S. as a deregulatory
movement has gained ground in the GOP.) As a result, operational constraints
become more difficult. Even if it gets approved, it becomes more difficult to
operate. Technology really helps with showing data to regulatory authorities
and the community. Companies can demonstrate their compliance plans with a good
technology portfolio for things like monitoring.
It is difficult to get new
facilities approved so releasing constraints on existing facilities is often
pursued. Technology can be used in new facilities and in extending existing
ones. Good data is key to showing compliance, which aids transparency. Odors
and methane issues can be complex to manage, and it is often difficult to
communicate performance and compliance methodologies. An efficient response to
compliance is important. A good network of sensors, along with modeling and
good management techniques, is key. People do not like the offensive odors of
landfills. They can trigger emotions and annoy people. With technology enabling
better transparency, the community is much better informed than in the past.
Quick communication between the site and the community is important. Some
facilities have had more people moving closer to them over time, which can
change how the community is affected.
Overall, this was an
informative but quite short webinar. The themes of more data and sensors,
denser monitoring networks, more AI integration, better community relations,
faster and more effective communication, and reaction were all communicated and
addressed.
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