Advocacy groups demand regulations for landfills

WASHINGTON – More than a dozen advocacy groups petitioned the Biden administration Thursday to regulate landfills, which have become the third-largest source of methane pollution.

According to a report by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), about 1,100 landfills emitted at least 3.7 million tons of methane in 2021.

Residents say these landfills are detrimental to a healthy, safe, and clean environment.

Methane is considered by international climate experts to be one of the main factors warming the planet.

Nearly 12% of the U.S. contribution to climate change comes from methane emissions.

According to the EIP report, annual methane emissions from landfills are equivalent to 295 million tons of greenhouse gasses over 20 years.

This is equivalent to the emissions from 66 million gasoline-powered vehicles in one year.

Edwin LaMair, attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund, said the pollution poses a serious threat to public health.

“Landfill pollution poses serious public health threats, and protective landfill standards are an urgently needed addition to other significant actions EPA has recently taken to reduce climate-destabilizing and health-harming pollution,” he said.

He said protective standards for landfills are urgently needed in addition to other important measures.

The EIP pointed out that landfills contribute to methane emissions primarily through rotting food waste.

Americans throw away about 40% of their food.

The petition urges EPA to promote composting and waste reduction to reduce methane emissions from landfills.