Colorado takes aim at landfill methane to curb air pollution and climate risk

Methane leaking from Colorado’s landfills now rivals the annual emissions of a million gas-powered cars, prompting proposed state rules to limit the gas's release and its toll on public health.

Jennifer Oldham reports for Capital & Main.

In short:

Colorado’s 51 municipal landfills emit methane at levels comparable to driving one million cars for a year. Methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over two decades and worsens climate-driven disasters like wildfires and drought.
New draft rules would require landfill operators to measure methane, fix leaks, and in many cases, install gas capture systems. The plan includes third-party satellite monitoring and closes loopholes in federal law that delay emission controls.
Alongside climate concerns, landfills emit toxic compounds like benzene and toluene, contributing to Denver’s ozone pollution and increasing health risks for nearby communities, especially in lower-income areas.

Key quote:

“These landfills are not only driving climate change, they are also driving a public health crisis in our community.”

— Guadalupe Solis, director of environmental justice programs, Cultivando

Why this matters:

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that escapes from landfills as food and yard waste break down. While less discussed than carbon dioxide, methane traps far more heat in the short term, accelerating the pace of climate change. What makes it even more dangerous is that its release often goes unnoticed: The gas is invisible, odorless, and until recently, difficult to track. Now, satellite imaging and remote sensing technologies are showing that many landfills release far more methane than previously thought. These emissions often carry other hazardous pollutants, including cancer-linked chemicals like benzene, putting nearby residents — many in low-income and communities of color — at elevated risk. In places like Denver, which already struggles with air quality, landfill pollution compounds an already serious health burden.

capitalandmain.com

Colorado takes aim at landfill methane to curb air pollution and climate risk

Climate ‘feedback loops’ could worsen global warming by 30%, study finds

Extreme weather preparedness is becoming increasingly necessary in Pittsburgh

Children’s health at risk in south Borneo as El Niño intensifies Indonesia wildfires

Wisconsin GOP candidate is exploiting the data center backlash to hit solar, wind

Are electric cars really bad for the environment?

‘Summer has shaken us’: Nepal’s flood disaster hits close to home in the shadow of melting Mont Blanc

Climate paradox: Peatlands store vast amounts of carbon — but emit it when they’re damaged

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.