Landfills: Largest Contributor to Climate Change
Landfills are large contributors to climate change primarily due to the gasses they emit. Landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions, contributing to 14.4 percent of human-driven methane emissions in 2022. Although methane is emitted in smaller quantities than carbon dioxide, it has 28 times greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide, trapping more heat in the atmosphere. Methane is responsible for around 30 percent of the current rise in global temperature. According to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks report, landfills released an estimated 119.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent to methane gas into the atmosphere in 2022. This amount represents 17.1 percent of the total methane emissions from human activities. These harmful gasses from landfills are generated through the bacterial decomposition of organic material in anaerobic landfill conditions.
Landfills also contribute to the production of leachate, a toxic liquid formed when rainwater comes in contact with landfill waste, picking up contaminants. Leachate can contaminate soil and groundwater, leading to long-term ecological damage since the chemicals do not break down easily. The treatment for contamination requires energy-intensive processes, which contribute to a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions increasing climate change.
One way to reduce the impact landfills have on climate change is by capturing gas from landfills and using it for energy. Landfill Gas Energy Project reduces the amount of methane emissions produced by landfills and converts it to electricity. This project can be used in place of fossil fuels in certain applications. The process can significantly reduce methane emissions and avoid the need for fossil fuel energy. However, this approach utilizes the methane from already disposed waste and does not prevent or stop the production of methane.
The most significant way to reduce landfills’ impacts on climate change is through waste diversion. This can be achieved by being conscious of consumption, reducing single-use products, and reusing items. Along with reducing waste, it is important to recycle and compost to prevent as much waste from landfills as possible. Recycling allows waste material, such as paper, plastic, glass, and metals, to be turned into new materials, significantly minimizing the amount of waste sent to landfills. Composting is another effective method, in which the process converts organic waste into valuable fertilizer. By reducing waste sent to landfills, humans can decrease the impact that landfills have on the environment and climate change.
