Assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Indonesia using the first order decay (FOD) model: implications of waste bioavailability, biodegradability, and bioactivity

Indonesia, the fourth most populous country globally, faces persistent challenges in managing municipal solid waste (MSW), with significant implications for environmental degradation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A substantial portion of these emissions arises from landfills, where the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste produces methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and others. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of landfill gas (LFG) emissions at the Sukawinatan landfill in Palembang, Indonesia, using the First Order Decay (FOD) model. Degradable organic carbon (DOC) values were derived through both C-organic laboratory testing and Ultimate Analyzer Value (UAV) analysis to reflect carbon (C) content variability across waste types. Results showed that food waste, garden/park waste, and nappies contributed most significantly to gas production due to their high bioavailability and biodegradability. Based on C-organic data, the estimated emissions were 5.5022 Gg/year of CH₄, 15.1309 Gg/year of CO₂, 15.8187 Gg/year of NO₂, and 22.0086 Gg/year of SO₂.