A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the waste sector

The document outlines the transition from traditional first-order decay (FOD) models to advanced monitoring technologies, including handheld analyzers, drones, and remote sensing via aircraft and satellites, to better quantify waste-sector methane emissions. It highlights that up to 80% of these emissions can be eliminated with existing technology, often at low or negative costs. The guide also details international efforts such as the Global Methane Pledge and the LOW-Methane Initiative to drive mitigation and investment.

• The waste sector accounts for approximately 20% of human-driven methane emissions, which occur when organic materials decompose in oxygen-free environments like landfills, dumpsites, and wastewater facilities.
• Traditional first order decay (FOD) models for estimating landfill emissions are criticized for relying on outdated field studies and faulty assumptions, often using defaults rather than site-specific data.
• Monitoring technologies serve three primary functions: refining modeled methane estimates by comparing them to measurements, quantifying emissions to prioritize mitigation sites, and screening disposal sites to pinpoint specific leaks.
• Remote sensing instruments on aircraft and satellites can detect large methane concentrations; for example, 2022 satellite data from landfills in Buenos Aires, Delhi, Lahore, and Mumbai showed emissions up to 2.6 times higher than officially reported values, reaching 29 tonnes of methane per hour.
• High-resolution methane imaging from aircraft has led to direct emission reductions, including a 37% reduction in observed emissions at a site in Pennsylvania.
• Up to 80% of methane emissions from waste could be eliminated using existing technological solutions, with the United Nations Environment Programme and Climate and Clean Air Coalition stating that up to 60% of these measures have low or negative costs.
• The LOW-Methane Initiative, supported by the Clean Air Task Force and U.S. State Department, aims to achieve at least 1 million metric tons of annual waste sector methane reductions before 2030 and unlock over $10 billion in investment across 40 subnational jurisdictions.
• Various governments are implementing waste-specific policies: Chile introduced a bill to prohibit organic waste in landfills, and the United States, Mexico, and Canada committed to a 15% reduction in solid waste and wastewater methane emissions by 2030 (from 2020 levels).

APA

Siegel, K., Humann-Guilleminot, T., & Binietoglou, I. (2024). A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the waste sector. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2024/02/guide-monitoring-quantifying-methane-emissions-waste-sector/

Chicago

Siegel, Kait, Théophile Humann-Guilleminot, and Ioannis Binietoglou. A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the waste sector. Clean Air Task Force, 2024. https://www.catf.us/2024/02/guide-monitoring-quantifying-methane-emissions-waste-sector/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Siegel |first1=Kait |last2=Humann-Guilleminot |first2=Théophile |last3=Binietoglou |first3=Ioannis |title=A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the waste sector |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=13 February 2024 |url=https://www.catf.us/2024/02/guide-monitoring-quantifying-methane-emissions-waste-sector/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{siegel2024guide, author = {Siegel, Kait and Humann-Guilleminot, Théophile and Binietoglou, Ioannis}, title = {{A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the waste sector}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://www.catf.us/2024/02/guide-monitoring-quantifying-methane-emissions-waste-sector/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }