{"id":24308,"date":"2026-01-22T12:20:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T17:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=24308"},"modified":"2026-01-22T12:29:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T17:29:07","slug":"colorado-sets-leading-standards-for-cleaning-up-landfill-methane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2026\/01\/22\/colorado-sets-leading-standards-for-cleaning-up-landfill-methane\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado sets leading standards for cleaning up landfill methane"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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By Edwin LaMair<\/a>, Senior Attorney, U.S. Legal & Regulatory, EDF and Ryan\u00a0J.\u00a0Call<\/a>, Policy and Campaigns Specialist, Eco-Cycle<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landfills are a major \u2013 and growing \u2013 source of harmful pollution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When food scraps and yard waste end up in landfills, they rot and release dangerous air pollution. That pollution includes methane \u2013 a greenhouse gas more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide<\/a> when measured over 20 years \u2013 as well as smog-forming compounds and toxic carcinogens like benzene and vinyl chloride. Landfills are now the third-largest source<\/a> of methane emissions in America, making them a major driver of climate change and poor air quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communities living near landfills bear the brunt<\/a> of this pollution. Emissions often contain hazardous air pollutants that increase the risk of cancer and respiratory disease. Low-income communities and communities of color face these health threats most acutely, compounding existing environmental and public health inequities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proven technologies can quickly find and fix methane leaks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, proven<\/a> and affordable solutions already exist<\/a>. Advanced technologies like drones and satellites can identify large, \u201csuper-emitter\u201d methane leaks that traditional monitoring often misses. By integrating these innovations into regulatory programs, agencies can quickly pinpoint high-emitting sites and require corrective action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upstream solutions matter, too. Diverting organic materials from the landfill, such as composting food scraps and yard trimmings, and recycling paper, cardboard, and wood prevent organic waste from generating methane in the first place. But even if we diverted all organic waste today, the material already buried in landfills will continue to produce methane for decades. This reality makes strong landfill controls essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Composting turns food scraps and yard trimmings from methane sources into a climate solution \u2013 building healthier soils, retaining water and sequestering carbon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Colorado raises the bar on cutting landfill methane nationwide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2025, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted leading standards<\/a> to dramatically cut methane pollution from landfills. The regulations require stronger leak detection, improved methane capture and destruction, better landfill cover practices, and the phase-out of open flares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once fully implemented, these rules will deliver major climate and health benefits. In 2020 alone, Colorado landfills emitted 4.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO\u2082) equivalent \u2013 roughly<\/a> the same climate impact as driving more than one million gas-powered U.S. cars<\/a> for a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broad support forged a practical, commonsense solution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A broad coalition helped shape these rules. Environmental Defense Fund, Eco-Cycle, Moms Clean Air Force, Full Circle Future, Western Leaders Network, GreenLatinos Colorado, Black Parents United Foundation, Clean Air Task Force, Earthjustice and several other environmental organizations all voiced collective support for stronger protections, emphasizing health, climate and environmental justice benefits. Large landfill operators, including Waste Management, along with municipal landfill owners, also participated in the rulemaking process. Together, the parties negotiated a practical, commonsense framework to cut pollution and meet shared goals. Key regulatory updates include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n