Emerging approaches for reducing landfill methane emissions

The application submission period for funding is now closed.

Overview

The program will fund single or multi-year projects for pilot tests of emerging monitoring technologies to optimize methane recovery at landfills. The ultimate goal of the program is to mobilize Canada's waste sector to prevent and reduce methane emissions from Canadian landfills.

Objectives

The federal government is undertaking efforts to reduce methane emissions from Canada’s municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. As part of this effort, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is supporting emerging and innovative technologies for optimizing methane mitigation at landfills.

Methane emissions from landfills are known to vary over time in response to factors including barometric pressure and operational practices. Recent studies in the United States have highlighted the importance of detecting and repairing leaks in cover systems to help reduce emissions.

Conventional operation of a landfill gas (LFG) recovery system involves manual wellfield monitoring and adjustment carried out at a specified interval. There has recently been increased interest in automated collection systems to increase LFG recovery. These systems can remotely and continuously measure numerous parameters and automatically adjust the vacuum at each extraction well.

There is also growing interest in emerging technologies that permit continuous or drone-based monitoring of methane emissions. These include monitoring technologies originally developed to support leak detection and repair programs at oil and gas facilities. They can help to more quickly:

• identify leaks
• assess the impact of changing site conditions and
• quantify emission rates

Continuous and drone-based monitoring technologies show promise for landfill applications, but further experience is needed to inform their use. Existing approaches for identifying methane leaks at landfills, by measuring surface methane concentrations, are labour intensive and conducted relatively infrequently.

Continuous monitoring technologies for landfill methane emissions and for wellfield management present an opportunity to increase LFG recovery. This will ultimately help to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, to date, these technologies have had minimal implementation or testing in Canada. ECCC would like to encourage additional testing and, if appropriate, further adoption of these systems at Canadian landfills.

The goal of the current funding is to support pilot scale implementation of emerging monitoring and automation systems including:

• drone-based methane measurement systems that can identify methane hotspots and leaks, and/or quantify total site emissions
• continuous methane monitoring systems that generate real-time continuous methane emissions data and identify leaks
• automated wellfield tuning systems that can be added to existing LFG collection systems to maximize collection efficiency
• other monitoring technologies that will assist in measuring methane emissions from landfills, identifying emissions sources or leaks, or improving LFG collection efficiency

Through this program, these systems will be installed and tested at existing open and closed Canadian landfills. Information will be gathered on the systems’ technical and economic effectiveness in the Canadian context and barriers to their adoption. The program will also provide relevant local examples of the technology implementation to interested landfill operators. If appropriate, further use of the systems can be promoted in order to ultimately contribute to the Government of Canada’s methane reduction commitments.

Expected results

The expected results of this program are:

• methane monitoring technologies are tested and evaluated at Canadian landfill sites
• information on the applicability and benefits of these technologies and lessons learned is disseminated to the public, including landfill owners and operators
• results of the pilot tests are used by manufacturers of methane monitoring technologies to improve the technology for use at landfills
• broader visibility and verification of the technologies, resulting in increased adoption at Canadian landfills and decreased methane emissions

Eligible applicants

Applicants must fall under one of the following categories:

• Domestic or international not-for-profit organizations, such as charitable and volunteer organizations, professional associations, and non-governmental organizations
• Domestic or international Indigenous organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations and authorities including:
  • Indigenous not-for-profit organizations
  • District councils, Chiefs councils and Tribal councils
  • Indigenous research, academic and educational institutions and
  • Indigenous for-profit organizations
• Domestic or international research, academic and educational institutions
• Domestic or international for-profit organizations, such as small businesses with less than 500 employees, companies, corporations, industry associations and agricultural organizations
• Local organizations such as community associations and groups, seniors’ and youth groups, and service clubs and
• Provincial, territorial, municipal and local governments and their agencies (for example Crown corporations).

Geographic location

All projects must take place in Canada. We will strive for geographical representation across Canada.

Eligible projects

Projects will consist of the installation, operation and evaluation of continuous monitoring technologies for landfill methane. Eligible technologies include:

• drone-based measurement systems that can identify methane hotspots and leaks and/or quantify the total site emission rate
• continuous methane monitoring systems that generate real-time methane emissions data
• automated wellfield tuning systems that can be added to existing landfill gas collection systems to maximize efficiency
• other monitoring technologies that will assist in measuring methane emissions from landfills, identifying emissions sources or leaks, or improving LFG collection efficiency

Eligible projects will also satisfy the following criteria:

• The system will be implemented at one or more open or closed Canadian MSW landfills.
• The technology must be a new installation or use at the landfill.
• The data collected during the project should include feedback from the landfill gas system operator. Operator input should address the ease of operation and how the results were used to modify site operations.

The eligible recipient would ideally have technical expertise to conduct studies. If a recipient intends to hire a consultant, they must provide details on the consultant’s background and expertise in the application.

The application must identify all contributions and expenditures for the project, including any in-kind contributions or other funding sources.

Range of funding

Projects are eligible for funding up to a maximum of $200,000 per project (for its duration). Projects must be completed by March 31, 2025. A total of $750,000 in funding is available between April 2023 and March 31, 2025.

There is no matching funding requirement, but applicants are encouraged to leverage additional funds and/or in-kind contributions from other interested project partners. Applicants are required to declare any and all sources of funding for the project.

For all expenses, only those deemed to be a reasonable share for completing the project shall be considered eligible.

Eligible expenses may include reasonable and properly itemized costs for:

• human resources, including salaries and benefits (directly associated with the project activities)
• consultants and contractors engaged to under project activities
• management and professional services (for example, accounting, audit, liability insurance costs that are directly attributed to carrying out the project, monitoring, legal or other professional fees translation)
• travel and field costs (please refer to the National Joint Council’s website for your province/territory kilometric rates)
• materials and supplies
• communication, production, distribution and printing costs
• equipment rentals and purchases, including research equipment and laboratory analyses
• vehicle rental and operation costs
• purchase of capital assets (defined as those tangible assets costing more than $10,000 with a useful life of more than one year)
• a reasonable share of overhead and/or administrative expenditures (for example, office supplies, rent) directly attributed to carrying out the project

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline for submission of applications?

The application deadline for initial allocation of funding is April 14, 2023. Applications can be submitted after this date if the process remains open. Information on the status of the funding program will be communicated on this webpage. Alternatively, you can contact ges-dechets-ghg-waste@ec.gc.ca to confirm whether applications are still being accepted. The Program will evaluate and approve projects as they are received and will then negotiate and sign contribution agreements. Note that regardless of when the application is submitted and approved, the project must be completed by March 31, 2025.

Can I submit more than one application?

Yes, interested applicants may submit multiple applications for different projects; however, there is no guarantee that one or all of the applications will be approved.

What is the evaluation process?

Each proposal undergoes a thorough evaluation to confirm that the project satisfies the eligibility requirements and program objectives. The evaluation will also review the applicant’s plan to meet the reporting requirements and expected results. ECCC may contact applicants for additional information or clarification on their proposal.

Applicants can expect to hear about the status of their applications within 1 month after submission of the application through the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS). Please note that successful applicants will need to negotiate and sign a funding agreement before any funds are dispersed or any work commences.

Points to consider

Reporting requirements

The Contribution Agreement, between the recipient and ECCC, will specify project reporting deadlines and will include the required forms. Recipients must provide regular progress reports, annual reports (for multi-year projects) and a final report upon the completion of the project. The final report will include:

• the project activities undertaken and results achieved
• the project funding and costs, and the use of ECCC’s funds
• a description of outcomes with respect to the expected results
• a quantitative and qualitative description of the accomplishments/success of the project
• challenges faced and solutions found, information on results (negative or positive) that were not anticipated, and lessons learned

Related link

• Projects funded under the Emerging approaches for reducing landfill methane emissions fund

Contact us

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Waste Reduction and Management Division
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3
Email: ges-dechets-ghg-waste@ec.gc.ca

Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS)
For GCEMS technical assistance: sgesc-gcems-sgesc-gcems@ec.gc.ca