Case Study

Control of Odor and Particulate Matter Emissions in Cerro Patacón, Panama City

Cerro Patacón Landfill
Sectors: ,

Need

Just 15 minutes from Panama City lies the Cerro Patacón landfill, where 2,500 tons of waste from the capital and San Miguelito are deposited daily, according to the Urban and Household Cleaning Authority (AAUD). This landfill manages more than 40% of the waste generated by the country’s 4.28 million inhabitants, according to official data.

The landfill not only concentrates a large amount of waste, but poor practices, such as intentional fires to reduce volume, cause severe environmental pollution problems. The burning materials include plastics, cardboard, wood, rubber, and even hospital supplies. These fires release toxic gases and suspended particles that affect both the natural environment and the health of nearby communities.

Six communities, totaling approximately 6,475 people, live near Cerro Patacón and are constantly at risk of exposure to these pollutants. Smoke, ash, and foul odors are dispersed for hundreds of kilometers, even covering parts of Panama City, worsening the environmental crisis.

Given this situation, there was an urgent need to implement a real-time monitoring system to assess gases and particulate matter emitted by fires and waste decomposition to mitigate impacts on air quality and detect odor episodes that affect the daily lives of these communities.

Thanks to the Kunak AIR Lite station network, continuous real-time monitoring of emissions has been achieved, allowing the detection and prevention of pollution and odor episodes, protecting the health of nearby communities.
Odor and Particulate Matter Emissions control in Cerro Patacón Landfill, PanamaOdor and Particulate Matter Emissions control in Cerro Patacón Landfill, PanamaOdor and Particulate Matter Emissions control in Cerro Patacón Landfill, PanamaOdor and Particulate Matter Emissions control in Cerro Patacón Landfill, PanamaOdor and Particulate Matter Emissions control in Cerro Patacón Landfill, Panama

Solution

Kunak provided the ideal solution by deploying a network of Kunak AIR Lite air quality monitoring stations around the landfill. These stations are equipped to measure concentrations of suspended particles (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1) and pollutant gases such as methane (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which are key indicators of waste burning and organic decomposition. Additionally, the stations record wind speed and direction, making it easier to identify sources of pollution and predict how emissions will disperse.

The monitoring network operates autonomously thanks to solar panels, allowing continuous, sustainable operation 24/7. Kunak Cloud’s early warning system enables authorities and managers to receive instant notifications if pollutants exceed established safety levels. This allows for quick action to mitigate effects on public health and the environment, informing nearby communities of potential pollution or odor episodes.

Results

Thanks to the implementation of the monitoring network using Kunak AIR Lite stations, effective control of diffuse gas and particle emissions at Cerro Patacón has been achieved, leading to:

  • Early detection of odor episodes: The real-time alert system allows managers to anticipate critical episodes, reducing discomfort for nearby communities.
  • Continuous air quality monitoring: The data collected helps identify peaks in pollutant concentrations related to fires, facilitating decision-making to better manage the landfill.
  • Reduced public health risks: With accurate and timely information on air quality, prevention and control measures have been implemented, significantly improving environmental conditions in surrounding areas.
  • Optimization of environmental management: The landfill has improved its capacity to manage emissions, resulting in better environmental protection and an enhanced public image regarding its environmental commitment.

Project details

Customer: Cerro Patacón Landfill

User: Linvestor Group

Location: Cerro Patacón Landfill, Panama

Sectors: ,

Year: 2024

Parameters:

  • Suspended particles (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1)
  • Pollutant gases such as methane (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
  • Wind speed and direction

Solutions

  • AIR LiteAir quality monitoring station
    air quality monitoring station

    AIR Lite

    The air quality station for hyperlocal monitoring.

    INDUSTRY GRADE DESIGN | HIGH ACCURACY

    Benefits

    • Rugged & compact design
    • Cartridges system
    • Fully autonomous
    • Built-in OLED display
    • Cost-effective
    See more
  • AIR CloudAir quality software
    Air quality software - Kunak AIR Cloud

    AIR Cloud

    Multipurpose air quality software for professionals

    REAL-TIME DATA | ALWAYS UPDATED

    Benefits

    • Secure and condifential
    • Air quality reporting
    • Advanced data analysis and visualisation
    • Reliable data guaranteed
    • Data sharing and integration
    See more
  • Hydrogen sulfide sensorReliable real-time data on H2S
    Hydrogen-sulfide

    Hydrogen sulfide sensor

    Reliable information about hydrogen sulfide

    GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

    Specs

    • Electrochemical
    • R2 >0.8
    • Range: 0-2,000 ppb (Type A) | 0-20 ppm (Type B)
    • Resolution: 1 ppb (Type A) | 0.01 ppm (Type B)
    • 24 months of operating life
    See more
  • MethaneReliable real-time data on CH4

    Methane

    Reliable information about sulphur dioxide

    GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

    Specs

    • NDIR
    • Typical accuracy (MAE): ±3 % F.S.
    • Range: 0-50,000 ppm
    • Resolution: 500 ppm
    • > 7 years of operating life
    See more
  • Particulate MatterReliable real-time data on suspended particles

    Particulate Matter

    Reliable information about particulate matter

    GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

    Specs

    • Optical particle counter
    • Up to R2 >0.9
    • Range: 0-1,000 | 0-2,000 | 0-10,000 ppb
    • Resolution: 1 μg/m3
    • 24 months of operating life
    See more
air quality monitoring station

AIR Lite

The air quality station for hyperlocal monitoring.

INDUSTRY GRADE DESIGN | HIGH ACCURACY

Benefits

  • Rugged & compact design
  • Cartridges system
  • Fully autonomous
  • Built-in OLED display
  • Cost-effective
See more
Air quality software - Kunak AIR Cloud

AIR Cloud

Multipurpose air quality software for professionals

REAL-TIME DATA | ALWAYS UPDATED

Benefits

  • Secure and condifential
  • Air quality reporting
  • Advanced data analysis and visualisation
  • Reliable data guaranteed
  • Data sharing and integration
See more
Hydrogen-sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide sensor

Reliable information about hydrogen sulfide

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs

  • Electrochemical
  • R2 >0.8
  • Range: 0-2,000 ppb (Type A) | 0-20 ppm (Type B)
  • Resolution: 1 ppb (Type A) | 0.01 ppm (Type B)
  • 24 months of operating life
See more

Methane

Reliable information about sulphur dioxide

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs

  • NDIR
  • Typical accuracy (MAE): ±3 % F.S.
  • Range: 0-50,000 ppm
  • Resolution: 500 ppm
  • > 7 years of operating life
See more

Particulate Matter

Reliable information about particulate matter

GASPLUG TECHNOLOGY | PATENTED DESIGN

Specs

  • Optical particle counter
  • Up to R2 >0.9
  • Range: 0-1,000 | 0-2,000 | 0-10,000 ppb
  • Resolution: 1 μg/m3
  • 24 months of operating life
See more