The project sponsor is VWS, a subsidiary of VWH, based in Drachten, the Netherlands. VWH was founded in 1954 by two brothers, Mr. Evert van der Wiel and Mr. Klaas van der Wiel. While the brothers still jointly own the company, they have retired from business. VWH has three main operating companies, and owns shares in more than 20 other businesses that complement VWH’s core businesses in logistics and transport, civil infrastructure construction management and contracting, construction materials (aggregate, commodities) supply, and environmental technology. VWH’s environmental technology business, VWS, has more than 18 years experience with LFG and related activities. VWS has developed more than 100 LFG extraction systems world wide, and operates some joint venture projects on behalf of VWH, or VWH companies, and other partners.

The INCaF contract value is greater than USD 6 M, which will be paid over 8 years upon the verification, certification, issuance and delivery of CERs to the CDM registry account of the State of the Netherlands.

The landfill gas project is located near the southern suburbs of Buenos Aires in the District of Avellaneda, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The site is bordered by the Santo Domingo Channel to the north, Tomas Espora Avenue to the south, the Rio de la Plata River to the east, and the West Buenos Aires-La Plata Highway to the west. The landfill is owned by Coordinacion Ecologica Area Metropolitana Sociedad del Estado (CEAMSE), a government entity responsible for waste management in the Buenos Aires region. The landfill accepted municipal solid waste from the greater Buenos Aires area between 1978 and 2004. The landfill holds 47,000,000 metric tonnes of waste in 27 modules in an area of almost 298 hectares with an estimated average depth of approximately 15 m. No flaring of landfill gas occurred on the site prior to the initiation of a pilot test project by VDWS in mid-2004. The landfill gas collection system consisting of vertical and horizontal wells and pipes is being installed in phases; start-up of Phase 1 occurred in September 2005. The project is expected to eventually cover a majority of the landfill. Gas will be piped to the flare facility. The gas extraction facility will cover 204 square meters, while the flare will cover 16 square meters.

This project is expected to have a high development impact:

First, with this project, IFC’s experience and knowledge in evaluating and financing private sector projects in developing countries is being brought to bear to structure contracts that minimize the risks associated with delivery of CERs from projects. Second, the sale of CERs from the Villa Dominico project provides support for VWS’ entry into the emerging market to develop emission reductions projects in developing countries. The project also reduces local air pollution (including methane, volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants) in an area with a heavy concentration of industry.

Overall, IFC’s goal is to encourage private sector participation in the carbon market by providing value-added services to support the long-term sustainability of projects in emerging markets. As a global investor and advisor committed to developing a sustainable private sector in emerging markets, IFC is well positioned to assist project sponsors to participate in the rapidly growing market for ''carbon credits''. Using its experience, IFC is collaborating with private sector entities to design, launch and manage products and services that promote the private sector’s participation in the market, including to guarantee delivery of CERs and to facilitate engagement of financial institutions in the carbon market.

This is a Category B project according to IFC’s Procedure for Environmental and Social Review of Projects because a limited number of specific environmental and social impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The review of this project consisted of appraising technical and environmental /social information submitted by the project sponsor. The following potential environment, health and safety and social impacts of the projects were analyzed:

- Corporate capacity in environmental and social areas
- Land acquisition for project facilities
- Leachate pollution
- Odor and nuisance
- Occupational health and safety

The sponsor has presented plans to address these impacts to ensure that the proposed project will, upon implementation of the specific agreed measures, comply with the environmental and social requirements - the host country laws and regulations and the World Bank/IFC environment and social policies and the environmental, health and safety guidelines. The review team, which visited the site, has also concluded that the project will have a positive effect in the surrounding environment. The Environmental Review Summary (ERS), which has been made available to the public, provides detailed information about management of environmental and social issues.
Location of environmental documents In locally affected community
Environmental documents and project related documents are located at the following location:

Van der Wiel Argentina SA office located in Buenos Aires at
Victor Martinez
1559 (C1406CEE)
Buenos Aires.
+54 1149237659