Study Indicates Landfill Methane Emissions Are Substantially Higher Than Reported

A new long-term study utilizing continuous ground-based measurements suggests that methane emissions from landfills are significantly underestimated. Researchers tracked a major New Jersey landfill for over two years, finding its 2023 emissions were approximately five times greater than reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These findings highlight that short-term surveys may miss substantial methane releases, particularly those influenced by cold temperatures and falling air pressure, impacting climate models and mitigation efforts.