Share your thoughts: Proposed regulatory framework for reducing Canada’s landfill methane emissions

Current status: Closed

Opened on April 18, 2023 and closed to new input on May 19, 2023.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is seeking comments on a proposed regulatory framework. This framework outlines requirements under consideration for new regulations to reduce methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills.

Find out more about the ongoing engagement on reducing methane emissions from Canada’s municipal solid waste landfills.

What is the issue

When organic waste – such as food, yard waste and paper products – is disposed in landfills, it produces methane. This process occurs over many years. The methane generated in landfills today is the result of past decades of organic waste disposal. By installing landfill gas management systems, methane can be recovered before it can be emitted to the atmosphere. The recovered landfill gas is either flared (burned) or can be used to create low-carbon energy. Diverting organic waste away from landfills to alternatives like composting, anaerobic digestion and recycling, and taking action to reduce the generation of organic waste (for example - reducing food waste at homes, businesses and institutions), will also lead to lower landfill methane emissions over the longer term.

The Government of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan – A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy committed to develop new federal regulations to increase the number of landfills that recover and flare or utilize landfill gas. ECCC has developed a proposed regulatory framework document to seek input on proposed requirements for these regulations.

Who should participate

All Canadians are invited to participate in this consultation. We especially want to hear from:

• landfill owners and operators
• waste management organizations
• industry experts and technology providers
• academics
• provincial, territorial and municipal governments
• Indigenous peoples
• environmental non-governmental organizations

Related information

• Reducing Canada’s landfill methane emissions - proposed regulatory framework
• Reducing methane emissions from Canada’s municipal solid waste landfills – discussion paper
• Waste and greenhouse gases
• Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan

Contact us

Waste Reduction and Management Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd., Place Vincent Massey
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3
Email: ges-dechets-ghg-waste@ec.gc.ca