Methane’s Silent Threat: New Research Shows Why New York Must Act on Landfill Emissions
A new study released by a team of scientists has confirmed what aerial surveys and community watchdogs in New York have long been sounding the alarm about: landfills in New York are quietly leaking far more methane than official records show—and the climate and public health stakes couldn’t be higher.
In a groundbreaking preprint published by the journal Earth System Science Data, researchers studied aerial and emissions rates from all methane emitting sources. Among the clearest findings? Landfills are the source of the highest observed methane emission estimates in New York, ranging from 161–3440 kg/hr.
A Local Crisis, National Consequences
In New York, municipal solid waste landfills reported emitting methane equivalent to 4.8 million metric tons of CO₂ in 2023—about the same as putting 1.1 million gas-powered cars on the road for a year. And that’s just what’s officially reported - according to the study, comparisons with the inventory show that methane emissions averaged over ten observed landfills are underestimated by a factor of 2.
Aerial surveys by Carbon Mapper have revealed massive, unreported methane plumes over sites like the Modern Landfill in Youngstown and the Ontario County Landfill in Stanley. These super-emitters are pumping out climate pollution that is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term—and yet, many landfills still monitor for emission leaks using outdated walking surveys and methods that can miss over half the methane being released.
The Human Cost
Beyond its climate impact, landfill methane is often released alongside toxic co-pollutants like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and toluene. Communities living near landfills—many of them low-income or majority-BIPOC—face elevated rates of asthma, cancer, and developmental health risks.
55% of landfills are near communities with high populations of children under 5.
66% are near areas with cancer rates above the state average.
50% are located in asthma hotspots.
This is not just a climate issue—it’s a public health and equity emergency.
Solutions New York Can Lead On
The good news? Methane from landfills is one of the easiest climate challenges to solve. States like Oregon and Maryland have already updated their regulations to require better landfill cover practices, early gas collection, and modern monitoring tools like drones, satellites, and fixed sensors.
New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has outlined promising goals to modernize its landfill regulations in its Solid Waste Management Plan—but these goals need to be translated into strong rules with teeth.
We urge NYSDEC to update state landfill regulations now, including:
Require modern methane detection tools
Mandate stronger landfill gas capture and cover standards
Close regulatory loopholes that allow high-emitting landfills to escape oversight
Increase community access to landfill data and real-time monitoring
Now Is the Time
With the climate clock ticking and new troubling methane data in hand, New York DEC has both the evidence and the authority to act.
This is our chance to move from waste to wins—for our climate, our air, and our communities.
