Biogas production from municipal organic waste, a process of sustainable development in Lahore (a review)

Proper disposal of municipal solid waste of Lahore is one of the major challenges for responsiblewaste management authorities. Various studies reveal that about 50 to 70% of the generatedwaste is collected in Lahore while the rest of the waste lies in the street, walkways and in vacantplots. The collected waste is dumped in the open and uncontrolled landfills without any energyrecovery. The present study is a literature review study where an attempt is made to find outsustainable solution for the disposal of municipal organic waste of Lahore. In the present study itis found out that biogas production from the municipal organic waste is a sustainable source ofhandling the waste. Hence, the biogas production will also help to achieve sustainabledevelopment in Lahore due to reducing the gap of demand and supply of electricity shortfallthrough renewable energy sources (biogas), greenhouse gas emission reduction substituting thefossil fuel and receiving the economic benefits from biogas.Biogas production from municipal solid waste Lahore will improve environmental quality of thesurrounding by reducing GHG emission and control the leachate pollution. A rough estimate ofthe study shows that if 100% of the generated municipal organic waste of Lahore is collected andutilized for biogas production this can produce 352,745.96 m3 biogas/ day. The produced biogascan be utilized for electricity production or upgraded biogas can be used in the vehicles whichsubstitutes the fossil fuel. Of this produce biogas 884MWh electricity can be generated with 35%electric conversion efficiency while 50% of the biogas energy can be utilized for cooling orheating the buildings. In addition to these 18,234,387.4 tons CO2 equivalent/year can be avoideddue to changing of current improper waste disposal system to biogas and the substitution ofelectricity and chemical fertilizer. From the economic point of view biogas production from themunicipal organic waste of Lahore can generate revenue of US$ 844.34 billion /year due to thesubstitution of fossil fuel, chemical fertilizer replacement with digestates and through carboncredit scheme.