California was the first state to enact landfill methane regulations in 2010; however, in the years since, states such as Oregon, Washington, and Maryland have implemented more stringent rules that incorporate the latest research and technology to address methane emissions. The 2010 rule was one of the first actions taken by CARB after California enacted SB 32. That law charged the agency with creating regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 emission levels by 2030.
The state has since taken further action to address methane pollution from waste. SB 1383, the state’s short-lived climate pollutants law passed in 2016, set a goal to reduce organic waste sent to landfills by 75% by 2025, since the material is a key contributor to methane emissions.
The landfill industry will certainly pay attention to this and provide critical information and data as guides. Additional limits can be attained with the use of modern technologies, processes, and communities doing their part. Landfill owners and operators continue to provide an essential service to communities at reasonable prices, but reaching new limits will require additional investments.
Large private and public firms, as well as some of the larger, more progressive landfills across North America, are already utilizing satellite data, drones equipped with sensors, advanced wellheads, and remote monitoring and control systems to acquire more accurate data while maintaining reasonable operating budgets. There is also a growing number of renewable natural gas plants and anaerobic digesters being planned and built, which help significantly.
This article, “California Poised to Ramp Up Landfill Emissions Regulations,” was originally published by WasteDive. You may share or print the article using the icons at the bottom of the page.
Additional Landfill and Emissions Resources:
