New study from carbon mapper & co-authored by EPA shines a light on outsized landfill emissions

Apr 8

A comprehensive direct measurement study from Carbon Mapper, co-authored by the U.S. EPA, provides even more evidence that landfills are emitting a shocking amount of methane that is hiding in plain sight, representing a massive but untapped opportunity to put an emergency brake on global warming. The study of hundreds of U.S. landfills using direct observations through airborne surveys found:

Super-emitters — or very large releases of methane — were found at 52% of surveyed landfills.
Landfill emissions are generally more persistent than emissions from the oil and gas sector. 87% of all quantified landfill emissions in the study were persistent over days, months, or years.
On average, aerial emission rates were 40% higher than the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) estimates, showing a significant discrepancy between reported and actual methane emissions.

The U.S. EPA has an opportunity and responsibility to rein in planet-warming emissions from landfills. By making common- sense improvements to landfill methane regulations under the Clean Air Act, the EPA can increase air emissions capture, reduce fugitive emissions, and stop large leaks fast.