First name: Sofia
Last name: Diggins
Class Year: 2024
Advisor: Michael Oristaglio
Essay Abstract:
Landfills often fade into the background of our activity space. We dispose of our waste and trust that it will disappear into the depths of wherever the garbage collector takes it. The trash is out of sight and out of mind. However, the reality is far more complex and consequential. Landfills are not merely repositories for waste; they are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which has a significantly higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide. As organic waste decomposes anaerobically in landfills, it releases methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere, posing profound environmental and health risks, especially for nearby communities. Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are a major contributor to methane emissions, ranking as the third-largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States. This thesis investigates historical and present regulatory shortcomings in controlling landfill methane emissions. It explores past failures in landfill gas regulations and proposes new regulatory frameworks to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. By employing an investigative journalism approach, this study includes a literature review, data analysis on landfills, and interviews with key stakeholders, including landfill operators, EPA officials, and other waste sector subject matter experts. This study finds that alone, regulatory reforms do not sufficiently address the longstanding challenges associated with landfill methane emissions. Economic incentives, however, may expedite the installation of landfill gas collection systems and help control waste sector emissions, working to mitigate the global effects of climate change before they get out of hand.