In this work, a procedure is suggested to assess the rate of biogas emitted by the Bellolampo landfill
(Palermo, Italy), starting from the data acquired by two of the stations for monitoring meteorological
parameters and polluting gases. The data used refer to the period November 2005–July 2006.
The methane concentration, measured in the CEP suburb of Palermo, has been analysed together with
the meteorological data collected by the station situated inside the landfill area. In the present study, the
methane has been chosen as a tracer of the atmospheric pollutants produced by the dump. The data used
for assessing the biogas emission refer to night time periods characterized by weak wind blowing from
the hill toward the city. The methane rate emitted by the Bellolampo dump has been evaluated using a
Gaussian model and considering the landfill both as a single point source and as a multiple point one. The
comparison of the results shows that for a first approximation it is sufficient to consider the landfill of
Palermo as a single point source.
Starting from the monthly percentage composition of the biogas, estimated for the study period, the
rate of biogas produced by the dump was evaluated. The total biogas produced by the landfill, obtained
as the sum of the emitted component and the recovered one, ranged from 7519.97 to 10,153.7 m
3
/h. For
the study period the average monthly estimations of biogas emissions into the atmosphere amount to
about 60% of the total biogas produced by the landfill, a little higher than the one estimated by the com-
pany responsible for the biogas recovery plant at the landfill