Since 2019, the Guardian has discovered that there have been over 1,000 significant releases of the powerful greenhouse gas methane from landfill sites.

An examination of worldwide satellite data reveals that highly populated countries in south Asia, along with Argentina and Spain, are prone to super-emitter occurrences. These developed nations have proper waste management systems in place to prevent any potential leaks.

Landfills release methane gas as organic materials like food scraps, wood, cardboard, paper, and garden waste break down without oxygen. Methane, also known as natural gas, has a greater heat-trapping effect than carbon dioxide and is a key concern for addressing climate change. According to scientists, the amount of emissions from uncontrolled landfills may increase by 2050 due to the growth of urban populations, jeopardizing our ability to prevent a major climate crisis.

Between January 2019 and June 2023, there were a total of 1,256 instances of methane super-emitters, as reported by the latest data. The countries with the highest number of major leaks are Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, followed by Argentina, Uzbekistan, and Spain.

There are several ways to decrease the amount of emissions from landfills. One way is to produce less organic waste, while another is to redirect it away from landfills. Another option is to capture at least some of the methane that is currently being released from landfills. Taking action to prevent methane leaks is effective in reducing global warming and is often a cost-effective solution. In fact, in some cases, the gas that is captured can even be sold as fuel, making it beneficial financially.

Methane emissions have accelerated since 2007 and cause a third of the global heating driving the climate crisis today. The acceleration has alarmed scientists, who fear it is the biggest threat to keeping below 1.5C of global heating and could trigger catastrophic climate tipping points. The rapid rise appears to be due to global heating driving more methane production in wetlands – a potential vicious circle that makes cuts of human-caused methane emissions even more urgent.

Breaking down garbage is accountable for approximately one-fifth of the methane emissions caused by humans. The remaining 80% is caused by fossil fuel operations and cattle and paddy fields. According to a report by the Guardian, there were over 1,000 instances of excessive methane emissions from oil, gas, and coal sites in the year 2022 alone, most of which could be easily addressed.

According to methane specialist Prof Euan Nisbet from Royal Holloway University of London, large landfills produce a significant amount of methane, but it is not expensive to cover them with soil to prevent the unpleasant smell and fire. It’s a simple solution, not a complex scientific concept.

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The microbes found in the soil transform methane into carbon dioxide.₂

Nisbet stated that the object has decreased its greenhouse impact by 97%.

President of the International Solid Waste Association, Carlos Silva Filho, stated that in order to meet the goal of reducing global methane emissions by 30% by 2030, it is crucial to address emissions from the waste industry. According to him, cutting methane is the key to reaching the target of limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Focusing on reducing methane emissions in the waste sector would have a significant impact. Currently, approximately 40% of the world’s waste is disposed of in unmanaged dumps.

Antoine Halff, one of the creators of Kayrros, the company that supplied satellite image analysis for the Guardian, stated that waste is a significant contributor to methane emissions. In countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, this not only results in a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions but also means missing out on utilizing a potential fuel source to fulfill the country’s energy requirements.

The satellite utilized by Kayrros circles the Earth 14 times daily and offers worldwide coverage, accurately identifying the approximate location of a leak within a six-mile radius. Satellites with higher resolution that have a lower orbit frequency can identify the specific waste facilities responsible.

Trash mountains

In 2020, Delhi, the capital of India, experienced 124 super-emitter events from its city landfills. Dr. Richa Singh from the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi stated that although methane leaks from the oil and gas industry are receiving widespread attention, the waste sector also demands immediate action.

“According to her, India is highly vulnerable to the effects of the climate emergency, emphasizing the significance of reducing methane emissions. Additionally, addressing landfills would eliminate the fires and severe pollution of air and water that they contribute to.”

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Methane is produced in landfills through the decomposition of food waste and other organic matter by microbes in a low-oxygen environment. Waste management systems can either redirect organic material to biogas facilities for methane fuel production, or contain and capture the gas from landfills. Burning can then convert methane into carbon dioxide.₂

This substance is a weaker contributor to the greenhouse effect.

In April 2022, the most severe incident in India took place in Delhi when an alarming 434 tonnes of methane were released into the atmosphere per hour. This amount is comparable to the pollution generated by 68 million petrol cars running at the same time.

As well as dirtying the air, Delhi’s stinking “trash mountains”, which are miles wide and 60 metres high, are hellish to live near. Mohammad Rizwan, 36, who owns a shop next to the Ghazipur landfill, the site of India’s biggest methane leak in the last five years, said the nearby residents were the “unluckiest people in Delhi”.

Over the course of 20 years, he has witnessed its transformation from a small pile of trash to a massive mountain. He shared that during the summer, it consistently catches fire due to the buildup of gas, making the environment even more repulsive. The constant presence of smoke makes it difficult to breathe and leads to illnesses among the residents. Despite the danger and discomfort, he has no other option but to continue living in this area as it is his home and source of income.

Methane is a small amount of gas present in the atmosphere, making up approximately 0.0002% of the total volume. According to Singh, however, at a typical dump site in India, the concentration can range from 3% to 15%, which is a significant increase. This can lead to frequent methane fires that spread air pollution, including harmful substances, throughout entire cities.

In February, a significant release of 214 tonnes of methane occurred near Lahore, Pakistan, which is equivalent to the exhaust emissions of 34 million cars per hour. The evaluation of methane leaks in Bangladesh is complex due to frequent instances of illegal tapping of gas pipelines, resulting in large leaks in cities that can be difficult to differentiate from emissions from landfills.

Symbolic failure

Regulation of landfill sites in the majority of developed countries prevents super-emitter events. However, Argentina stands out as an exception, having experienced 100 such events in the capital city of Buenos Aires since 2019. The most severe of these occurred in August 2020, with an emission rate of 230 tonnes per hour, equivalent to the emissions of 36 million cars.

One major site, the Norte III landfill, is wedged between working-class neighbourhoods in the north of Buenos Aires. Rubbish trucks crawl over the top of its giant earth-covered mounds and the pungent smell and the toxic dying rivers in the vicinity are symbolic of Argentina’s failure to manage waste sustainably, said Juan Martin Ravetinni, the founder of QueReciclo, a waste management consultancy. “Every day I ask myself how the authorities have allowed this.”

Nadia Mazzeo, a waste management expert at the University of Buenos Aires, states that certain areas of the sites are being effectively managed. She also mentions that Buenos Aires has the most advanced landfill in Argentina and one of the top ones in Latin America. However, a significant amount of waste (approximately 15,000 tonnes per day) is still being dumped at the site. A study conducted in 2022 using satellite data revealed that the uncovered waste piles could be the cause of harmful emissions. According to Prof Ilse Aben from the Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON), who was involved in the study, using temporary covers in the open area at Norte III could help address this issue.

Ceamse, a private company owned by the government of Buenos Aires, manages the Norte III site. According to a company representative, the detection of emissions from a small, uncovered area suggests that the methane capture and treatment system is effective on the rest of the site. This uncovered area is necessary due to the high volume of waste (2,000 lorries per day) being deposited at the site.

In 2021, Ceamse announced that the introduction of new equipment would result in a decrease in emissions. However, by late 2022, this had not been achieved, and the company attributed this to a rise in the amount of waste being dumped. Recent SRON data from January highlights that there are still significant levels of emissions in Buenos Aires.

The representative stated that the president of Ceamse had authorized the signing of a contract with the Global Methane Hub foundation in early February. This agreement would utilize satellite images to enhance the handling of methane.

‘Deeply counterintuitive’

In Madrid, Spain, the satellites have detected 17 instances of major emissions since 2021, with four of them occurring in the first half of 2023. The most significant event occurred on January 23 and released 25 tonnes per hour, which is equivalent to the emissions of 3.9 million cars.

Halff stated that it is surprising to associate western European countries with uncontrolled methane emissions from landfills, as it goes against common knowledge.

In the southern part of the city center, where biogas extraction facilities are in operation to collect methane, the occurrences were identified near landfill sites. Through satellite data analysis in 2021 and a ground-based survey in 2018, significant methane emissions were observed in this region.

The city government of Madrid, in charge of managing the main waste sites in the vicinity, suggested that other landfills outside its jurisdiction in the broader Madrid region could be to blame. They also stated that satellite data may not be as accurate as on-site measurements. Furthermore, they assured that any significant leaks at the biogas plant would have been identified and that all facilities comply with environmental guidelines.

According to officials at the Las Dehesas site, approximately 20% of methane is expected to be released, which is considered a typical amount for a managed landfill where biogas is being extracted. They also stated their intention to implement a real-time monitoring system for tracking emissions and conduct robotic inspections to collect data by the end of 2024.

The detection of methane super-emitters using satellites is challenging in tropical areas due to the presence of high levels of water vapor and clouds, which can disrupt the accuracy of measurements. As a result, super-emitters in central Africa and south-east Asia may not be identified. However, the launch of new satellites is expected to enhance the detection of these emissions in these regions. Additionally, smaller leaks from waste sites, although less significant, can still release substantial quantities of methane into the atmosphere over a longer period of time.

‘Out of sight’

Many developed countries have successfully addressed significant methane emissions from garbage landfills. However, there are still concerns surrounding biodigesters, as they have been observed to release 4% of their gas in the UK.

According to Silva Filho, the reason for inaction in other areas is not only due to the low visibility of the waste industry, but also because of cost. He states that waste is often disregarded as a topic and is not a top concern in many countries, particularly in developing nations. It is almost like a magical service – waste is removed from the curb and people do not pay attention to whether it is being sent to a recycling facility or a landfill, as long as it is out of their sight.

Nisbet stated that individuals have not considered the matter and that local authorities are preoccupied with other concerns. He also mentioned that it is a problem related to governance.

According to Singh, using soil to cover landfills may be a fast and inexpensive option, but it is not a complete solution to the pollution issues they pose. He states that many landfills in India and other developing countries are not built scientifically and lack systems for capturing landfill gases or handling hazardous waste.

“We could refer to these as hubs of pollution,” she stated. “No matter what type of pollution you think of – whether it be land, surface and groundwater, or air – it can all be found there, and that is extremely alarming.”

Singh stated that steps have been taken: “Thanks to the involvement of the Indian government’s Clean India Mission, there has been a significant shift in our perception of waste. Our goal is to rid our country of garbage.”

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According to her, the Central Pollution Control Board in India has located over 3,000 landfills, and approximately one-third of these have been addressed. The process includes digging up the landfills and using aeration to decompose the organic waste into CO2.₂

The process involves utilizing burnable waste as a source of fuel and repurposing the remaining non-toxic residue for use in construction materials.

According to Singh, while global warming may not always motivate people to take action, improving the cleanliness of cities does. He explained, “The effects of methane on the climate may be difficult for the average person to comprehend, but everyone desires to have a clean city. The issue of overflowing garbage has been highlighted in the media and has even influenced election outcomes.”

Indore, located in Madhya Pradesh, has been named the cleanest city in India. It has implemented a system where organic waste is separated at its source, which is a vital measure in preventing the creation of new landfills that produce methane. In its place, a biomethane plant has been established which has the capacity to generate 17 tonnes of methane fuel on a daily basis.

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The municipality has restored 40 hectares (100 acres) of landfill and is transforming a large portion into a urban woodland. This area, which previously emitted methane greenhouse gas, is now being utilized to absorb CO2.₂,” Singh said.

According to Silva Filho, the most suitable choice is the one that fits within our budget. By addressing issues at a grassroots level with uncomplicated solutions, we can gradually improve the system. He also mentioned that countries like India, Colombia, Chile, and Malaysia are making progress. However, as the population continues to grow, it will primarily occur in the global south where there is a lack of waste infrastructure. This could lead to significant problems if we continue with our current practices.

Reworded: According to Nisbet, reducing methane emissions is a highly beneficial investment for addressing climate change. If you have $1 million to allocate towards this issue, prioritizing methane reduction would yield significant results for your investment.

Luke Taylor and Hannah Ellis-Petersen contributed additional reporting from Buenos Aires and Delhi, respectively.

Source: theguardian.com