Landfills contribute significantly to global warming, new study reveals

In a recent New York Times article, the spotlight was cast on the alarming methane emissions originating from landfills, shedding light on their significant contribution to climate change.

According to the article, a study revealed that these emissions are nearly three times higher than what has been reported to federal regulators.

The study, which measured methane emissions at approximately 20% of about 1,200 large, operational landfills in the United States, brought attention to the previously underestimated role of these sites in climate change.

Researchers utilized airplane flyovers and imaging spectrometers to identify emissions hot spots at more than half of the surveyed landfills, indicating potential leaks and significant methane plumes.

According to researchers, though methane lasts for a shorter time in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, it is more potent. “Its warming effect is more than 80 times as powerful as the same amount of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.”

Based on the estimates of the US Environmental Protection Agency, landfills are the third largest source of human-caused methane emissions in the United States, emitting as much greenhouse gas as 23 million gasoline cars driven for a year.