Level 8

Implications and Challenges of AI in Landfill Gas Recovery 

This year, the United Nations Environment Programme reports that global annual waste has reached 2.1 tons (“Global Waste Management Outlook”). Additionally, The World Counts points out that  99% of purchased items are discarded after six months, filling up landfills and aggravating the environmental impact of waste. A byproduct of decomposing waste in landfills is methane: a harmful greenhouse gas that traps more heat than carbon dioxide. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), landfill gas accounts for 20% of total methane emissions (“Global Methane Tracker”). The overused method to control the emissions of this gas involves burning it in flares to turn it into less harmful molecules. However, this method is costly and inefficient. Using artificial intelligence (AI) in the process of landfill gas recovery would make it possible to increase efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and potentially reuse landfill gas as a power source. However, addressing the current lack of research is critical for realizing these benefits.

AI can play a crucial role in waste management by analyzing waste composition, predicting methane production, and providing solutions to optimize gas collection in real time. For instance, using image analytics, a device can compare waste composition data with information in a database to create diagrams of the physical proportions of waste composition in a specific final disposal. Abdallah et al. remark that “such complex nonlinear processes are challenging to model, predict, and optimize using conventional methods ” (231). Another use of AI involves sensors that collect data from the physical environment, such as temperature, pressure, and gas flow, which is then sent to the cloud for analysis; this helps to improve the capturing process of gas and creates possibilities for using it to generate energy instead of burning it in flares. AI could also assist in selecting the most effective system of using landfill gas for power generation. 

The current recovery process consists of manual data collection, resulting in a time-consuming and sporadic amount of data that impacts the project’s efficiency. As a result, the gas estimation projections are inaccurate and unprofitable. Therefore, project managers prefer to burn the gas in flares. According to the Department of Ecology of the State of Washington, most landfills have inefficient flares that burn methane, which superficially destroys methane but releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, significantly impacting the environment (Licata). Advancements in AI technology can automate data collection and analysis to provide accurate real-time data ready for reporting. This shift in the method could facilitate the management of this final disposal to generate clean energy while reducing greenhouse gas release. Investing in AI-driven solutions represents a crucial step toward enhancing both the profitability and sustainability of landfill gas recovery efforts.

That said, the introduction of AI in this field has been slow, and there is lingering uncertainty about whether using AI to make methane gas collection better is worth it. One problem is the need for more research demonstrating the results of AI's incorporation. Additionally, flares' recently increased efficiency enhances gas burning, so this method can remain as an inexpensive solution for the emissions problem. Finally, implementing any new technology is costly and takes time. However, studying the implementation of AI in landfills to collect gas would make unknown areas disappear and accelerate the introduction of AI in this field. 

Increasing research into integrating AI in the landfill gas industry could accelerate the introduction of this new technology. At present, the limited number of reference articles on AI applications makes managers stay in their comfort zone. A comprehensive study could exhibit the application of AI-based techniques in many waste management processes, leading to operational parameters for this new technology (Abdallah et al., 233). Reliable research could lead to a decrease in the cost of using this new technology, and unlock the potential success of AI and its sustainable future in landfill gas management.

To conclude, introducing AI to recover the methane produced from landfills presents an opportunity to increase efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and potentially generate energy. However, the slow integration and limited research on AI applications in this field highlight the need for further exploration and innovation to establish the parameters to develop this technology. If that is achieved, landfills could better utilize this energy source, resulting in increased profits from energy generation, improved waste management, and reduced methane gas emissions into the environment. Continuing research is crucial for unlocking the potential use of AI to benefit the landfill gas industry.

Written by: Marjory Mejia 

Works Cited

Abdallah, Mohamed, et al. “Artificial intelligence applications in solid waste management: A systematic research review, Waste Management.” Waste Management, vol. 109, 2020, pp. 231-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.04.057. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

“Global Methane Tracker 2024.” International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2024. Accessed 27 Oct. 2024.

“Global Waste Management Outlook 2024: Beyond an age of waste – Turning rubbish into a resource.” UNEP, 2024, https://wedocs.unep.org. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Licata, Eleanor. “Reducing methane emissions from landfills is another powerful tool to combat climate change.” Washington State Department of Ecology: Home. 18 Dec. 2023, https://ecology.wa.gov. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

“A World of Waste.” The World Counts. https://www.theworldcounts.com/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024.

In my communication class, we recently watched a short movie called The American Dream. I had heard about it in the 1960s and ‘70s films, where people achieved their dreams by buying big houses, and new cars, and starting families. But I began to wonder: What does the American Dream mean today? I asked many people around the PCC campus, including my friends and family. 

The first person I asked was a PCC officer, and she said, "I want my job to be less stressful and to have a happy life.” The following person I asked was my brother-in-law, who is married to my sister. He told me the story of his dad, who was evidence of the American Dream. He said, “My dad immigrated to America from London when he was 15. He worked hard, and luckily, he became successful and owned his own company. And here I am; I feel grateful for what my dad gave me.” When I  asked him about his American Dream, he jokingly said, “Your sister should go shopping less!” He laughed and added, “Don’t tell your sister I said that, okay?” He also mentioned that he would think about it and call me back. 

The third person I asked was my lifelong friend. Whom I love like my sister. She told me, “My American dream is freedom. My dad worked for the Old Republic of Vietnam. The communists jailed him after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Because of that, my chance of getting into a university in Vietnam under the communist regime was meager due to the entrance testing ranking score. The family background was the base of ranking. Students with parents working for the communist government could get into universities with low scores. In contrast, the students whose parents were in jail due to their association with the old government had to achieve significantly higher scores to get an entrance. I escaped the country by boat and am now in America. I have the freedom to choose in every aspect  to study, to get married, etc.” 

Many people want a peaceful life. Some told me that they are living the American dream now. Nobody has asked me about my American dream yet! They are too busy thinking about their American dream or they haven’t thought about it for many years, so they need time.

Let me tell you about myself 

In 2008, I arrived in Portland from Vietnam with my husband. It was rainy and cold, and everything felt so new and different for a girl like me, who had never left Vietnam. I remember going to Pho Oregon on Sandy Boulevard;  the pho was so big I could barely finish it! Portland quickly became a place close to my heart. We lived in Bend, but I traveled to Portland often for my Asian groceries and Vietnamese food. 

I fell in love with the seasons, the colors of the blooming flowers, the fresh smell in the air, and the welcoming people. There was something special about Portland - something I hadn’t experienced anywhere else. One of my fondest memories is from when I had just arrived in Portland outside of the Pittock Building, I was napping in the car while my husband worked, and a police officer on a horseback stopped beside me. Nervous, I asked if I had done something wrong. He smiled and said, “ No, ma’am. I’m just here to make sure you’re safe, especially since you’re pregnant. It’s not the safest place to rest.” 

That small act of kindness showed me that Portland wasn’t just a beautiful city, but a place where people genuinely cared for each other. I’ve never forgotten that moment, and it’s one of the many reasons I love this city. 

Fast-forward to 2021. After being away for several years, I returned to Portland with my family. I couldn’t believe what I saw as we drove through the city. The downtown I once loved seemed different--feces around shops, trash on the streets, and more people experiencing homelessness than I had ever seen before. It felt like the vibrant city I knew had lost its way, and my heart broke. I wondered, “What happened, Portland?” 

My American Dream is deeply connected to Portland. It’s not about big houses or new cars, it’s about living in a community where people care for one another and where we feel safe and proud to live. My dream is to see Portland return to the city it was when I first arrived--the city where we can walk around downtown without fear, where our neighborhoods are safe for children to play, and where people look out for each other. 

Portland has so much beauty, from its breathtaking views to its incredible food and the friendly spirit of its people. I know we face challenges, but I believe that by coming together, we can fix them. We need real action, not just promises, and we need everyone to play a part in making this city better.

I met Miss Thuy Tran, our state representative. It was only three weeks after I had moved back when I had a frightening experience. A young man in a white car pulled a gun on me as I was walking to a yoga studio. I was frozen with fear, and even though I wasn’t harmed, the shock of the moment stayed with me. When I told my husband, he tried to report it to the police, but after hours of waiting on the phone, we received no response. 

A week later, my neighbor told Miss Thuy about what happened and she came to my house to check on me. Her kindness and genuine concern touched me deeply. She didn’t know me, but she took the time to come over, listen to my story, and offer support. That act of care stayed with me, and I realized that she was someone who truly wanted to help our community. 

As I got to know Miss Thuy, I wanted to support her work. I decided to host an event at my home to give people in the neighborhood a chance to meet her, hear her ideas, and share their concerns. However, when I went around inviting my neighbors, many were distrustful. Some questioned why I was involved in politics, while others dismissed me, saying, “Don’t waste my time”. It was discouraging, but I kept going because I knew that change doesn’t happen without effort. I wasn’t doing it for politics --I was doing it because I wanted a safer, stronger community, and I believed that Miss Thuy could help bring that change. 

Portland is unique, not just in America, but in the world. I recently met a couple from France who had heard so much about Portland that they wanted to visit. That gave me hope. Despite the challenges we face, people still want to experience this city. And I understand why - there’s nowhere else quite like it. How many cities have a forest right in the middle? Or such good “taste” water that you can drink it straight from the tap? Portland has a balance of nature and city life that’s rare. It’s a place of beauty, with its green spaces, rivers, and mountains, yet it’s also a city filled with creativity and community spirit. 

Portland is special, and by working together to fix the problems we face, we can restore its reputation and pride. It’s still a city that people want to explore and love, and I believe we can make it even better.

So, what is my American Dream? My dream is for Portland to be the city I fell in love with--the city where kindness, safety, and community thrive. I dream of a Portland where people come together to solve our problems, where government officials care deeply about their work, and where we can all be proud to call it home. I believe that with hard work, dedication, and a united effort, we can make Portland a place we all love to live in once again.

Written by: Chan Jans