Great Lakes Communities and Ecosystems
Solutions

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
The decomposition of waste in landfills creates methane, a potent heat-trapping gas that contributes to climate change. Avoiding waste accumulation in landfills through programs that reduce, reuse, and recycle waste can reduce methane emissions. For example, the city of Toronto produces its greatest greenhouse gas emission reductions, as well as generates a significant sum of income each year, through capturing landfill gases for use in power production.
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Solution strategies: AVOID WASTE REDUCE WASTE RECAPTURE METHANE

Methane gas emissions can be captured from landfills and used to generate electricity. Methane capture technologies are promoted and practiced through a number of projects in the region. These recovery programs are capable of collecting and destroying large quantities of methane that have the emission reduction equivalent of taking hundreds of thousands of cars off the road.
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