Addressing Landfill Methane Emissions with Environmental Justice

As governments respond to the growing pressure to reduce methane emissions under the Global Methane Pledge and broader climate goals, landfills and dumpsites have emerged as a critical point of intervention for climate mitigation. These sites, many of which are uncontrolled, decades old, and located near marginalized communities, pose serious environmental, social, and public health risks. Methane emissions, groundwater contamination, fire hazards, and human exposure to toxic pollutants all persist long after waste disposal ends. Yet while political momentum for methane reduction is increasing, too many proposed interventions focus narrowly on technical fixes that risk deepening social and environmental inequities. 

This report outlines the risks of business-as-usual (BAU) approaches to landfill methane mitigation and makes the case for a sustainable, justice-centered response. It draws on international evidence, current policy trends, and community experience to identify what works, and what doesn’t, when it comes to landfill closure and organics management.