Curious question about landfill "spouts"

they vent the gasses that develop as the waste decomposes...


(so it can stink for years after they close it...)

So it opens up? It looks like the hoses just go directly into the ground that why it didn't seem to make sense to me.

If so, I'd hate to live nearby when it is opening up day.

Worry more about ground water contamination than outgassing.

Maybe they're extracting methane. The spout would corrospond to the well casing in a gas well, with the hose being the production string.

All modern design landfills have gas collection and venting systems. The "spouts" are all connected to a permeable layer underneath into which the landfill gases seep. The vents then collect the cages and deliver it to the vertical pipes where technicians can see (by pressure gages) that that specific area of the gas vents are actually working, and further, to be able to sample the gas using what are called "Tedlar Bags" which fluff up when they fill with gas. These are taken to a lab to see the gas makeup. The hoses going back into the ground are hooked up to a collection pipe system which goes to a treatment gas cleanup system then to a lfare pipe or a "gas to electricity" plant. Its all pretty nifty but they still have problems from douche bags driving over the pipes and cruching them, or bad designs or even burrowing animals digging up the vent layers.

See I knew if I ask, I'd find out. Either that or you guys are really good at making stuff up.

My associate "LArge Louis" Dellagrazzano, told me. PSSST, but I wouldnt ever call Large Louis a liar, knowatImean?

Makes me wonder what is causing those gases in the landfills.

"LArge Louis" wanted me to tell you that he had nothin to do with them, he was out of town that day.

Don't tell Large Louis anything about me ..... please

fuggedaboudit

It's methane mostly. It is created when the garbage decomposes. Some landfills collect it and use it as fuel, but a lot just vent it into the atmosphere.

In Pa , they are NOT allowed to vent it at all. It would be a violation of 2000$ a day per occurence .Some landfills have multiple gas collection systems

I wish that were true in Iowa.

Some places build an arboretum over it.. (I didn't notice any venting.)

Closed landfills have been turned into public spaces but we don't allow any tree planting. That could disrupt the cap.

here on the wide open prairie, we don't collect the gas, just vent it.

but we don't bag all the cows, either...