Landfill Gas

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-015343",
  "term": "Landfill Gas",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Landfill gas is created when organic waste in a municipal solid waste landfill decomposes. This gas consists of about 50 percent methane (the primary component of natural gas), about 50 percent carbon dioxide (CO2), and a small amount of non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs).\n\n2. Gas that is generated by decomposition of organic material at landfill disposal sites. The average composition of landfill gas is approximately 50 percent methane and 50 percent carbon dioxide and water vapor by volume. The methane percentage, however, can vary from 40 to 60 percent, depending on several factors including waste composition (e.g. carbohydrate and cellulose content). The methane in landfill gas may be vented, flared, combusted to generate electricity or useful thermal energy on-site, or injected into a pipeline for combustion off-site.\n\n3. Gas produced as a result of anaerobic decomposition of waste materials in the landfill. Landfill gas generally contains 40 to 60 percent methane on a dry basis, typically less than 1 percent non-methane organic chemicals, and the remainder being carbon dioxide.",
  "abbreviation": "LFG",
  "references": [
    "EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program at http://www.epa.gov/lmop/faq/lfg.html",
    "DOE Energy Information Administration Glossary",
    "40 CFR 98.6 (CFR 2013)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/landfill-gas/"
}