Carbon Mapper’s Post

🌍 Addressing Landfill Methane: A Crucial Step in Climate Action 🌿 Join me in exploring the significant impact of landfills on methane emissions and their role in climate change. In this thought-provoking blog post, we delve into the challenges of accurately quantifying landfill methane and propose innovative solutions to combat this greenhouse gas. 🔬 Discover the Science: Learn about the complexities of measuring methane emissions from landfills and how outdated estimation methods can lead to potential underestimations. 🌱 Sustainable Solutions: Explore the importance of curbing landfill methane emissions for immediate climate action and in achieving global climate targets set by the Paris Agreement. 🚀 Innovative Approaches: Delve into the cutting-edge technologies, such as remote sensing and methane-sensing satellites, that are reshaping our ability to detect methane "super emitters" and take prompt corrective actions. 🤝 Collaboration for Change: Understand the significance of collaborative efforts among government agencies, landfill operators, and environmental organizations to develop effective mitigation strategies. Let's come together to create a sustainable future by addressing landfill methane emissions and making a positive impact on our planet. Don't miss out on this eye-opening blog post – click below to read more! #ClimateAction #Sustainability #GreenTech #MethaneEmissions #WasteManagement #EnvironmentalImpact #Innovation #GlobalWarming #RenewableEnergy #Collaboration #ClimateAction #Sustainability #GreenTech #MethaneEmissions #WasteManagement #EnvironmentalImpact #Innovation #GlobalWarming #RenewableEnergy #Collaboration #LandfillMethane #GreenhouseGas #ClimateChange #EPARegulations #MethaneEstimation #RemoteSensing #CarbonFootprint #CompostFacilities #Digesters #MethaneSensingSatellites #ParisClimateAgreement #EnvironmentalSolutions #ClimateChangeMitigation #EnvironmentalAwareness #EnvironmentalScience #GreenInitiatives #SustainableFuture #EnvironmentalConservation #ClimateChangeSolutions #ClimateLeadership #SustainableLiving #EnvironmentalProtection #ClimatePolicy

Here's an op-ed from #GinaMcCarthy about the methane opportunity presented by landfills—addressing the sources of that methane NOW could lead to a relatively quick decrease in atmospheric methane. And that would buy us some time to address larger sources of #greenhousegases like CO2. What's the largest source of methane generated by landfills? You guessed it—#foodwaste. According to last fall's report from US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "Due to its quick decay rate, food waste in landfills is contributing to more methane emissions than any other landfilled materials. An estimated 58 percent of the fugitive methane emissions (i.e., those released to the atmosphere) from municipal solid waste landfills are from landfilled food waste." Read the full op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/eBTwJ2HJ #sdg12 #climatechange #sustainability

Methane From Landfills Is a Big Driver of Climate Change, Study Says: An anonymous reader quotes a report from the New York Times: They're vast expanses that can be as big as towns: open landfills where household waste ends up, whether it's vegetable scraps or old appliances. These landfills also belch methane, a powerful, planet-warming gas, on average at almost three times the rate reported to federal regulators, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science. For the new study, scientists gathered data from airplane flyovers using a technology called imaging spectrometers designed to measure concentrations of methane in the air. Between 2018 and 2022, they flew planes over 250 sites across 18 states, about 20 percent of the nation's open landfills. At more than half the landfills they surveyed, researchers detected emissions hot spots, or sizable methane plumes that sometimes lasted months or years. That suggested something had gone awry at the site, like a big leak of trapped methane from layers of long-buried, decomposing trash, the researchers said. "You can sometimes get decades of trash that's sitting under the landfill," said Daniel H. Cusworth, a climate scientist at Carbon Mapper and the University of Arizona, who led the study. "We call it a garbage lasagna." Many landfills are fitted with specialized wells and pipes that collect the methane gas that seeps out of rotting garbage in order to either burn it off or sometimes to use it to generate electricity or heat. But those wells and pipes can leak. The researchers said pinpointing leaks doesn't just help scientists get a better picture of emissions, it also helps landfill operators fix leaks. Keeping more waste out of the landfill, for example by composting food scraps, is another fix. "The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 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," notes the NYT. "Overseas, the picture can be less clear, particularly in countries where landfills aren't strictly regulated. Previous surveys using satellite technology have estimated that globally, landfill methane makes up nearly 20 percent of human-linked methane emissions." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Methane From Landfills Is a Big Driver of Climate Change, Study Says: An anonymous reader quotes a report from the New York Times: They're vast expanses that can be as big as towns: open landfills where household waste ends up, whether it's vegetable scraps or old appliances. These landfills also belch methane, a powerful, planet-warming gas, on average at almost three times the rate reported to federal regulators, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science. For the new study, scientists gathered data from airplane flyovers using a technology called imaging spectrometers designed to measure concentrations of methane in the air. Between 2018 and 2022, they flew planes over 250 sites across 18 states, about 20 percent of the nation's open landfills. At more than half the landfills they surveyed, researchers detected emissions hot spots, or sizable methane plumes that sometimes lasted months or years. That suggested something had gone awry at the site, like a big leak of trapped methane from layers of long-buried, decomposing trash, the researchers said. "You can sometimes get decades of trash that's sitting under the landfill," said Daniel H. Cusworth, a climate scientist at Carbon Mapper and the University of Arizona, who led the study. "We call it a garbage lasagna." Many landfills are fitted with specialized wells and pipes that collect the methane gas that seeps out of rotting garbage in order to either burn it off or sometimes to use it to generate electricity or heat. But those wells and pipes can leak. The researchers said pinpointing leaks doesn't just help scientists get a better picture of emissions, it also helps landfill operators fix leaks. Keeping more waste out of the landfill, for example by composting food scraps, is another fix. "The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 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," notes the NYT. "Overseas, the picture can be less clear, particularly in countries where landfills aren't strictly regulated. Previous surveys using satellite technology have estimated that globally, landfill methane makes up nearly 20 percent of human-linked methane emissions." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Methane From Landfills Is a Big Driver of Climate Change, Study Says: An anonymous reader quotes a report from the New York Times: They're vast expanses that can be as big as towns: open landfills where household waste ends up, whether it's vegetable scraps or old appliances. These landfills also belch methane, a powerful, planet-warming gas, on average at almost three times the rate reported to federal regulators, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science. For the new study, scientists gathered data from airplane flyovers using a technology called imaging spectrometers designed to measure concentrations of methane in the air. Between 2018 and 2022, they flew planes over 250 sites across 18 states, about 20 percent of the nation's open landfills. At more than half the landfills they surveyed, researchers detected emissions hot spots, or sizable methane plumes that sometimes lasted months or years. That suggested something had gone awry at the site, like a big leak of trapped methane from layers of long-buried, decomposing trash, the researchers said. "You can sometimes get decades of trash that's sitting under the landfill," said Daniel H. Cusworth, a climate scientist at Carbon Mapper and the University of Arizona, who led the study. "We call it a garbage lasagna." Many landfills are fitted with specialized wells and pipes that collect the methane gas that seeps out of rotting garbage in order to either burn it off or sometimes to use it to generate electricity or heat. But those wells and pipes can leak. The researchers said pinpointing leaks doesn't just help scientists get a better picture of emissions, it also helps landfill operators fix leaks. Keeping more waste out of the landfill, for example by composting food scraps, is another fix. "The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 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," notes the NYT. "Overseas, the picture can be less clear, particularly in countries where landfills aren't strictly regulated. Previous surveys using satellite technology have estimated that globally, landfill methane makes up nearly 20 percent of human-linked methane emissions." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

🚨 **Methane Emissions Alert!** 🚨 Did you know that methane emissions at U.S. landfills are regularly exceeding federal limits? 🌍📉 A recent report has uncovered shocking details: some landfill emissions are even higher than reported! 🏭💨 "Inadequate federal rules have allowed poor management practices to continue undetected for years," says Katherine Blauvelt of Industrious Labs. 🛑 Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, warming the planet more effectively than CO2. Scientists are calling for urgent action. 🌡️⚠️ EPA reports that food waste contributes to 58% of these emissions. It's a missed opportunity to capture and use an energy resource. 🍕➡️⚡ The Biden administration is stepping up efforts, but is it enough? 🏛️🇺🇸 Tap the link to read more about this critical environmental issue and the pressure on the EPA to act now! 🔗👇 https://lnkd.in/djEAs2W7 #MethaneEmissions #ClimateCrisis #EPA #EnvironmentalJustice #Sustainability Karmactive

Scientists like Daniel Cusworth from Carbon Mapper continue to highlight the urgent need for policies to cut down methane (CH4) emissions from landfills. Three key takeaways: 1. Waste management needs to be dealt with- it is separate from reducing societal reliance on fossil fuels for energy. 2. Most waste is landfilled in the US and technological advances show that regulatory reports of methane measurements from landfills are inaccurate and underestimated by 1.4X. 3. Diverting waste away from landfills will cut down methane and slow down climate change. Proud to work with Team Covanta who reducing waste for society through waste solutions that are alternatives to landfilling; putting waste to good use and creating environmental benefits of methane avoidance . https://lnkd.in/e7D5zS8H

Shocking Stats: Landfills are a Major Source of Methane Emissions A new study by Carbon Mapper reveals that landfills are a significant source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. This invisible threat is now visible from space with the help of methane-detecting satellites! Key takeaways: • Landfills are the 3rd largest source of human-caused methane in the US. • Landfills emit methane at a rate exceeding EPA standards for the oil & gas industry. • Simple solutions exist: waste prevention, food recovery, anaerobic digestion & composting programs. Limetrack's food waste reduction platform helps businesses track, analyse & reduce food waste, diverting organic materials from landfills, reducing methane emissions and combating climate change. Let's turn food waste into opportunity. Learn more about Limetrack today! #methane #foodwaste #sustainability #climatechange https://lnkd.in/gFaf-uSX

Landfills: a ticking time bomb visible from space 💣 🛰 Methane emissions from landfills are a silent yet significant contributor to climate change, and it's time we address this pressing issue head-on. A recent article by The Guardian highlights the alarming rate at which organic waste in landfills is releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas that’s more damaging than CO₂ in the short term. The piece underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to mitigate this environmental challenge. At Hydryx, we’re leveraging this problem into an opportunity. Our mission is to capture methane emissions from landfills and transform them into a valuable resource for producing green energy. By doing so, we not only reduce harmful emissions but also contribute to a sustainable energy future 🌱 💡 Together, we can turn waste into a source of power and pave the way for a cleaner, greener planet! 🌍 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gFaf-uSX #ClimateAction #GreenEnergy #Sustainability #MethaneReduction #Hydryx

A new study highlights the persistent issue of methane pollution from US landfills, posing a significant threat to net zero goals. Despite methane emissions plateauing, landfills remain a major contributor due to organic waste decomposition. Urgent action is needed to implement methane capture technologies, reduce organic waste, and modernize waste management systems to curb these emissions. Tackling methane from landfills is vital for combating #climatechange. https://lnkd.in/egbrh7az