One contributing factor to the climate crisis is the management of waste, which accounts for approximately 5% of the global greenhouse gas contribution. According to the World Bank, the global waste generation is projected to increase by approximately 30% (2.59 billion tonnes) by 2030 and 70% (3.4 billion tonnes) by 2050. Effective waste management is crucial, and landfilling remains an economical method globally—accounting for 25.2% of global treatment and waste disposal.

However, landfilling can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental concerns. Monitoring landfill sites is essential due to the environmental impacts they can have. Issues such as leaching of hazardous substances, underground fires, and greenhouse gas emissions have been well-documented. In densely populated areas, landfill sites also pose a public health risk and limit city expansions. Modern landfill site designs focus on controlling and treating emissions from the waste body, highlighting the need for effective monitoring systems.

This DCU research collaboration presents a novel stand-alone device for the autonomous measurement of gas pressure levels on active landfill sites.

This monitoring system provides real-time data of gas dynamics and supports the early detection of critical events. The device employs advanced sensing technologies and wireless communication capabilities, enabling remote data transmission and access via the Internet. Through extensive field experiments, we demonstrate the high sampling rate of the device and its ability to detect significant events related to gas generation dynamics in landfills, such as flare shutdowns or blockages that could lead to hazardous conditions.

The validation of the device’s performance against a high-end analytical system provides further evidence of its reliability and accuracy. The developed technology herein offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for environmental landfill gas monitoring and management. We expect that this research will contribute to the advancement of environmental monitoring technologies and facilitate better decision-making processes for sustainable waste management.