Federal Rules Fail to Contain Methane Emissions from Landfills: Report

"A leading source of U.S. climate pollution could be curbed with more gas-collection systems and better emissions monitoring, environmental advocates say."

"Methane emissions from landfills—one of the largest sources of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions—could be reduced through stronger regulations and better emissions monitoring, according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity Project, an environmental organization based in Washington.

The report, published Thursday, concluded that in order to reduce emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency needs to require more gas-collection systems at landfills, more monitoring and accurate reporting of emissions, and encourage more composting, recycling and reduction in the waste stream by consumers.

Municipal landfills, solid waste facilities that receive household garbage, are one of the largest sources of methane emissions in the United States, accounting for 14 percent of all methane emissions, according to the EPA’s annual greenhouse gas inventory."

Phil McKenna and Amy Green report for Inside Climate News May 18, 2023.

Source: Inside Climate News, 05/18/2023