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The report examines the carpet industry in Europe, finding that despite sustainability claims, the vast majority of carpets end up in landfills or incinerators. It highlights a significant gap between the environmental commitments of leading manufacturers like Interface and Desso and their actual recycling rates, which are estimated at 1.5% and 3% respectively. The document identifies specific systemic failures in France's events sector and Germany's waste management infrastructure, and calls for immediate regulatory action, including the inclusion of carpets in the Eco-design Directive.

Climate TRACE estimates that anthropogenic methane emissions in 2025 were just over 410 million tonnes, with agriculture, fossil energy, and waste accounting for 97% of the total. The report argues that slashing methane is the most impactful way to keep global warming under 2 degrees Celsius due to the gas's powerful near-term warming effect. It identifies specific actionable opportunities: reducing methane intensity in oil and gas production (particularly in the US and Mexico), capturing coal mine methane, targeting a small number of high-emitting landfills, and addressing enteric fermentation and rice cultivation in agriculture.

A coalition of trade associations, businesses, and NGOs argues that excluding waste incinerators and landfills from the EU ETS creates distorted price signals and undermines circular economy goals. They call on the Commission to use its mandate under Article 30(7) of the EU ETS Directive to propose the inclusion of these sectors by 2026 for implementation in 2028, noting that incineration emits over 95 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually and landfills produce potent methane emissions.

The document details coal ash generation in Kansas, which ranks 29th in the U.S. with 1.3 million tons produced annually. It identifies 13 coal ash ponds across six plants, noting that all are over 20 years old and one is rated as a "significant hazard." The report highlights a lack of liners and leachate collection systems at several sites, including the Holcomb power station landfill, and notes specific releases at the LaCygne Generating Station due to rainfall.

Louisiana generates over 1.5 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 25th in the US. The state has 11 coal ash ponds at three plants, all at least 20 years old, with no historical releases reported by the EPA. However, risk assessments indicate issues with lining and monitoring, including unlined impoundments at Dolet Hills Power Station and a lack of groundwater monitoring at Big Cajun 2.

Maryland generates over 1.9 million tons of coal combustion waste annually, ranking 23rd in the US. The state utilizes at least 31 landfills and minefills, as ponds are prohibited. However, the document highlights significant regulatory gaps, such as discretionary groundwater monitoring and a lack of financial assurance requirements. These deficiencies are linked to several contamination cases, including a $54 million settlement for the BBSS Gambrills site and documented groundwater pollution at the Brandywine and Faulkner facilities.

Mississippi generates 1.75 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 24th in the United States. The state utilizes several landfills and one coal ash pond at the Jack Watson plant, though critical data on liner integrity and monitoring is lacking or withheld as confidential business information.

Utah generates 2.3 million tons of coal ash annually, ranking 18th in the United States. The state utilizes a mix of landfills and ponds for disposal, with several sites lacking liners, leachate collection, or groundwater monitoring. The Intermountain Power Project operates six ponds with a combined capacity of 2.3 billion gallons, most of which are rated as low hazard.

Wisconsin generates 1.4 million tons of coal ash annually and has the highest number of documented coal ash contamination sites in the U.S. While the state maintains a high recycling rate of at least 85% due to stringent disposal costs, many existing ponds are over 30 years old and lack liners or leachate collection systems. The document identifies 13 specific contaminated sites and highlights a 2011 bluff collapse at the Oak Creek Plant that released coal ash into Lake Michigan.

The document details the disposal of 2.1 million tons of annual coal ash in Wyoming, highlighting that 17 ponds across five plants exist, with three rated as "significant hazard." It notes that 11 ponds are over 30 years old and identifies specific historical releases and groundwater contamination issues at sites like the Naughton, Dave Johnston, and Jim Bridger power stations.

The document describes coal ash as a toxic industrial waste stream containing carcinogens and neurotoxins that contaminate air, soil, and water when improperly managed. It evaluates various disposal methods, identifying unlined surface impoundments as the most hazardous and encapsulated reuse in concrete or gypsum as the safest. The guide outlines specific technical standards for landfills and ponds—including impermeable liners, groundwater monitoring, and siting prohibitions—and argues for enforceable, site-specific permits and financial assurance to ensure long-term remediation.

The document details a 'closed loop' system where Cape Town Market diverts organic waste to Elgin Fruit Juice's anaerobic digester in Grabouw to produce electricity. The resulting digestate is transported back to Cape Town Market, where Ywaste uses it as a carbon-based additive to create compost for farmers. This synergy results in 1,400 tonnes of organic waste diverted from landfills annually, a reduction of 1,000 tonnes of fossil greenhouse gases, and an annual saving of R550,000 for Cape Town Market.

The document highlights the challenges of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) management in Cape Town, where landfills are nearing capacity. It argues that while high-value materials like metals are already recycled, lower-value salvageable items are often discarded. The case study presents 'The Real Deal 2 Cheap' as a business model that fills this gap by purchasing and reselling used building materials, thereby reducing landfill pressure, creating local jobs, and providing affordable materials to the public. It also notes systemic barriers in South Africa, such as low landfill tariffs for C&DW and a lack of reliable waste data.

The Mill Food Recycler Educators Guide, developed by Arizona State University’s Sustainability Teachers Academy in collaboration with WWF, Incite, and Mill, offers a curriculum for K-12 students to manage food scraps and understand food systems. The guide includes specific lesson plans ranging from preschool to 12th grade, covering subjects such as science, math, reading comprehension, and visual arts. These lessons use the Mill Food Recycler to demonstrate the transformation of food waste into 'Food Grounds,' exploring concepts like carbon cycling, chemical and physical changes, and the impact of landfills. Additionally, the document provides strategies for school-wide food waste reduction, such as 'Share Tables' and 'Offer vs. Serve' policies, and highlights the success of the Food Waste Futures Fellowship Program in the Phoenix metropolitan area.