Report on Landfill Methane Consultations Released

Sep 1, 2022

In early 2022 Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) sought input on proposals for developing regulations on methane emissions from landfills. Comments received have been summarized in a “What We Heard” report, which can be accessed here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/reducing-methane-emissions-solid-waste-what-we-heard.html

Recommended approaches from the report (specifically related to organic waste diversion and treatments) include:

  • Bans on disposal of organic waste in landfills
  • Incentive to promote innovative treatment technologies
  • Regulations that are phased in progressively
  • Options that encourage provinces/territories to develop their own regulations
  • Options that don’t encourage the export of waste
  • Requirements that organic waste be separated by the waste producers and managers
  • Incentives to encourage the use of offset credits to help reduce organic waste disposal
  • Levies or taxes that reflect “the true cost of waste and greenhouse gas emissions and fund waste reduction and diversion projects”