A study shows that landfills release 6 million tons of climate-warming methane every year

In 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that about 3.7 million tons leak from U.S. landfills each year methane. In the short term, the powerful greenhouse gas has 80 times greater global warming power than carbon dioxide.

But analysis Using satellite data from the Environmental Defense Fund, emissions were found to be about 6 million tons per year.

“That’s the same climate impact — in the short term — as 100 million gasoline cars,” said Edwin LaMair, an attorney for the advocacy group. “Most people don’t think about the impact of air pollution from food and yard waste ending up in landfills, but it’s actually a major contributor to climate change.”

LaMair said most landfills self-report their methane levels to the EPA. But dozens of landfills violate federal clean air standards, including some in southern Nevada, southern Idaho, central New Mexico and throughout Colorado.

There are more than 1,100 municipal waste landfills nationwide. Approximately two million Americans live within a mile of a landfill, and many of them are people of color and live in poverty.

This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from partner stations throughout the region. The Mountain West News Bureau is funded in part by Society for public broadcasting.