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“In the case of Fort McMurray, we are go-
ing to reduce carbon emissions by 1.2 to 1.8
million tonnes,” Baxter explained. “That by
itself will be the largest single carbon reduc-
tion project on a landfill in the world.” Climate
Change Emissions Management Corporation
of Alberta (CCEMC) has recognised the impor-
tance of this technology and has made a sig-
nificant investment in the project.
The company’s process, which can be used
for both active and closed landfills, involves
drilling wells to various depths in the site and
then injecting air and moisture into the wells.
The change in environment quickly kills the
anaerobic bacteria, which are replaced by aer-
obic bacteria that begin to rapidly decompose
the organic material. Methane production and
odours from anaerobic decomposition ceases
within two to three weeks and the quality of
the leachate improves. Heat generated by the
process turns the leachate into water vapour.
SALT condenses the water vapour and then
either releases it into the environment in the
form of non-polluting water or adds it back
into the site when additional moisture is re-
quired.
After three to four years, the site becomes
inert and as a result of compaction, up to 30
