Landfills Are Hidden Climate Villains, Study Finds
Forget superhero movies—real-life aerial surveys just exposed a major environmental threat. Over half of U.S. landfills are leaking methane, a greenhouse gas 80x more potent than CO₂, according to a new Science journal study.
Why It Matters
Landfills are the third-largest U.S. methane source, but they’ve been flying under the regulatory radar. The study, led by Carbon Mapper and NASA researchers, found:
52% of landfills had methane leaks vs. 1% in oil/gas sectors
Leaks often last months—way longer than industry spills
EPA estimates missed the mark by 40%
Super-Emitters: The Silent Culprits
These leaks spew 100+ kg of methane per hour—enough to power 3.7 million homes annually if captured, per EPA data. \"Pinpointing these leaks is like finding low-hanging fruit for climate action\", says lead scientist Dan Cusworth.
What’s Next?
With satellite tech advancing, regulators could soon track landfill emissions in real time. But for now, oil and gas remain policymakers’ main focus. Time to update the playbook?
