USING ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF METHANE FOR ENERGY AS A METHOD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ECONOMY CONDITION, ON EXAMPLE OF POLAND

Abstract

The article analyses the types of waste generated in economy and the possibilities of their management, on the
example of Poland. The main focus was on using selected types of waste for methane production. The impact of
the decomposing mass of organic waste on the production of greenhouse gases was examined and various types
of biogas plants operating in Poland were presented (biogas plants at landfills, biogas plants at sewage treatment
plants, agricultural biogas plants). The article also presents the benefits for the economy from the use of methane
from methane drainage. Unfortunately, in Poland, methane resources are used to a small extent. In the case of
mines, landfills or sewage treatment plants it is related to high costs of constructing methane capture
installations, which are not offset by revenues from sales of gas and green certificates. Although much more
favourable blue certificates have been introduced for agricultural biogas plants, the obstacle standing in the way
of their progress is the lack of local spatial development plans for the places designated for their construction.