Methane emissions from landfills are a critical driver of global warming. Nonetheless, landfill gas recovery is not mentioned in the 2020 European Methane Strategy. The sixth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC*), with critical assessments of climate change, only addresses reducing the disposal of organic waste materials. The International Solid Waste Association’s Landfill Working Group has published an article spotlighting this issue.
Persistent Organic Waste Disposal
Global investment in alternative waste processing is unlikely to happen soon. Landfills will remain the most cost-effective option in many parts of the world for decades. Even if we switched to different organic waste processing immediately, landfills would emit methane for the foreseeable future. This underlines the need for landfill gas recovery.
More focus on landfill gas recovery
In 2021, over a hundred countries pledged to reduce methane emissions by 30% compared to 2020 through the Global Methane Pledge. However, political reluctance to prioritize landfill gas recovery persists. The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), Landfills Working Group (of which Afvalzorg is a member), is committed to raising awareness and offering practical solutions.
Achievable Reduction in Methane Emissions
The outcome of the ISWA project and publication indicates thatreducing methane emissions at landfills can be achieved by limiting organic waste disposal and initiating gas recovery, regardless of location or waste processing levels. Other options, such as energy generation or methane oxidation, offer limited contributions. Restricting organic waste takes time, while gas recovery has an immediate impact. Both actions are crucial.
Afvalzorg’s Landfill Gas Project Development
Afvalzorg has created user-friendly landfill gas models compliant with IPCC standards, available for free on our website. With extensive global experience, Afvalzorg can help you develop landfill gas projects to significantly reduce methane emissions. Join us on this mission towards a more sustainable future!
*The IPCC is a body established by the United Nations tasked with assessing the scientific knowledge on climate change and its impacts.