Canada proposes new measures to regulate landfill methane emissions

The Canadian government has proposed new regulations that would require landfills to control methane emissions and ensure landfill gas recovery systems capture as much methane as possible.

The proposed regulations, announced June 28 by Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, would provide a consistent regulatory approach to reduce landfill methane emissions across the county in publicly and privately owned landfills that have received municipal solid waste (MSW).

More specifically, owners and operators of regulated landfills estimated to generate methane above regulation thresholds would be required to comply with and monitor methane concentration limits on the landfill surface, limit venting of methane to the atmosphere and detect and repair methane leaks.

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To help assist with compliance costs that some landfills may incur, the Canada Community-Building Fund provides $2.4 billion in funding annually to provinces and territories who, in turn, distribute this funding to communities for strategic investments in essential infrastructure, including solid waste management infrastructure. This funding could support communities that develop landfill gas management infrastructure projects to comply with the proposed regulations.

The proposed regulations aim to reduce methane emissions from Canadian landfills by about 50 percent by 2030 (from 2019 levels). The regulations would also contribute to Canada’s commitment to reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent below 2020 levels under the Global Methane Pledge.

Stakeholders, interested parties and Canadians are invited to review the proposed regulations and provide feedback by Aug. 28.