Diving brief:

• A group of environmental organizations led by Eco-Cycle, is calling on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to update landfill regulations, allowing the use of newer technologies and capturing more emissions.
• Colorado received $129 million from the US EPA through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program. In the request, state regulators outlined plans to strengthen methane monitoring efforts, including at Colorado’s 59 landfills.
• If it strengthens its regulations beyond federal requirements, Colorado would be one of several states to do so, joining Washington, California, Maryland and others.

Dive overview:

A growing group of environmental and climate action groups around the world urge regulators to take action on landfill emissions. They cite both environmental justice concerns and a growing understanding of the amount of methane released from landfills, a pollutant with 80 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. when emitted into the atmosphere.

The state has already had methane in its crosshairs. He launched a aerial survey pilot in 2021, which used several different technologies and was primarily intended for oil and gas installations. But as this pilot project progresses and the state has gained a better understanding of landfills’ own methane contributions, CDPHE is looking to expand its work.

Eco-Cycle, a nonprofit hauler and recycler in the state, was joined by two dozen organizations to sign the letter of October 16including the Industrious Labs research group. The coalition called on Colorado regulators to take four steps to improve landfill regulations, some of which align with Industrious’ recommendations. published in a report addressed to the U.S. EPA earlier this week.

This includes a call to lower the threshold at which landfills must install gas collection and control systems – the Eco-Cycle letter recommends that this requirement apply to all landfills with at least 200,000 tonnes of waste in place. The groups also recommend that landfill operators install the system “as soon as possible” and “reduce the installation time to less than a year.”

Like the recent report from Industriousthe letter called for increased regulation of landfill coverage. The coalition said CDPHE should minimize the size of the active working face and require landfill operators to deploy the most modern covering materials that can help oxidize methane.

The letter further encouraged CDPHE to improve its advanced monitoring approach by expanding the use of monthly drone monitoring, continuous emissions monitoring, and other advanced technologies such as satellites.

Finally, the coalition urged CDPHE to encourage the diversion of organic waste from landfills. The EPA reaffirmed last year that reducing food waste at source from disposal such as landfill or incineration is the most beneficial way to use this material. He also noted in a report released around the same time that organic materials contribute to 58% of fugitive methane emissions from MSW landfills.

Municipalities across Colorado have begun taking early steps to combat organic waste with support from state agencies. Denver, the state’s largest city, is expand the collection of residential organic materials. Even so, the state is behind schedule in its plans to meet the diversion goal set by the Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission in 2016. The state hopes to reach 45 percent waste diversion by 2036, but rerouting rates have remained relatively stable in recent years. , reaching 15.5% in 2022, per year CDPHE report to Parliament earlier this year.

Funding from the CPRG program could contribute to these efforts. In addition to Colorado’s stated plan to improve methane monitoring, the state also plans to create support for municipalities through its Local Climate Action Accelerator program. He anticipates that this program will help jurisdictions increase their diversion rates through policies such as mandatory recycling or composting, pay-to-throw systems, or other measures.

Colorado’s Climate Action Planthat she developed as part of the CPRG According to the program process, the state’s landfills emit a total of 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. Many of the industry’s largest landfill operators have facilities in the state.

The National Waste & Recycling Association said it looks forward to working with Colorado regulators to strengthen environmental standards.

“Our industry continues to collaborate with regulatory agencies and invest in innovative technologies, from aerial and ground-based detection tools to gas-to-energy projects,” CEO Michael Hoffman said in a sent statement by email. “We believe that a thoughtful and comprehensive approach is essential for accurate emissions assessment and effective, sustainable solutions. »

CDPHE did not respond to a request for comment.