A recent study conducted by scientists has shed light on the concerning levels of methane emissions emanating from landfills across the United States. The study, published in the journal Science, involved aerial surveys of over 200 landfills in 18 states from 2018 to 2022, making it the most extensive measurement-based survey of American landfills to date.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas with over 80 times more warming power than carbon dioxide in the short term, is primarily produced by sources such as oil and gas and agriculture. While landfills are often overlooked as a significant methane source, they contribute approximately 20% of global human-caused methane emissions.
