EPA Tightens Landfill Standards to Reduce Methane

The Environmental Protection Agency lowered the emissions threshold that would require existing landfills to install new pollution controls despite objections from the industry that the benefits would not justify the additional cost.

The EPA July 15 released its final new source performance standards (RIN:2060-AM08) for landfills built or modified after July 17, 2014, as well as related emissions guidelines (RIN:2060-AS23) for landfills already in operation, which are expected to reduce methane emissions by 334,000 metric tons at an annual cost to the industry of $6 million in 2025.

The landfill rules are part of the EPA’s push to curb emissions ...