Managing a landfill involves more than just waste collection—it’s a complex operation with unique challenges. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas released from decomposing materials, adds to the complexity. From shifting emission sources to odor issues, safety risks, and the remote location of your landfill, the complexity only grows.
How do you pinpoint emission sources? Is there a faster, more accurate way to quantify and mitigate emissions? Or how do you prove progress to regulators and stakeholders? These aren’t easy questions, but they’re critical to your landfill management. Did you know that with the right tools and strategies, methane can shift from being a problem to an opportunity?
Advanced satellite monitoring is transforming landfill methane management. This article explores how GHGSat, a leader in high-resolution methane monitoring, collaborated with the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) to tackle data gaps in Africa’s remote landfills. This collaboration shows a clear example of how landfill operators can move from reactive mitigation to proactive, measurable solutions
A Use Case: Turning Data into Action
For many landfill operators, accessing accurate and timely data is a challenge, especially in remote locations where on-site measurements are time-consuming and costly. This lack of data makes it harder to pinpoint problem areas, prioritise mitigation efforts, and track progress effectively. In Africa, these challenges are magnified. Many landfills are in rural, hard-to-reach areas and lack basic monitoring, even as waste generation continues to rise.
CATF partnered with GHGSat to address this gap, monitoring 13 landfill sites, including active and decommissioned sites, in West, Central, and East Africa. The project’s goal was not only to measure emissions but to turn those insights into action—helping decision-makers understand where to focus their efforts and how to prioritize solutions.
Methane emissions were detected at over half the sites, ranging from 400 kg/hr to 2700 kg/hr. Surprisingly, one of the largest emitters was a newly established sanitary landfill in Côte d’Ivoire—highlighting how even modern facilities can fall short without consistent monitoring. For many of these sites, this was the first-ever methane assessment, underscoring how a lack of data hindered decision-making. Satellite monitoring filled the gap, delivering actionable insights that would have been otherwise impossible to obtain.
“Across Africa, the waste sector faces a significant data scarcity issue, which hampers methane mitigation efforts. However, by leveraging satellite monitoring, we can expand our reach and provide science-backed evidence to decision-makers and underserved communities.”
But data alone isn’t enough; turning it into action requires collaboration. By working hand-in-hand with local researchers, landfill operators, and community leaders, the project didn’t just identify the problems—it fostered faster mitigation action. For example, in Mozambique, satellite findings were shared with stakeholders to highlight methane’s impact on climate and public health, sparking local initiatives to improve waste management practices.
How This Impacts Your Landfill Operations
Satellite monitoring delivers more than just data—it offers actionable insights. Here’s how it can work for you:
- Pinpoint Hotspots: Satellites can locate exact emission sources, whether from hotspots at active dumpsites to unexpected leaks in newly built landfills. This precision allows you to address problems faster and more cost-effectively.
- Prioritise Investments: Not all landfills are the same, and not all emissions require the same solutions. Data from satellites helps you decide where to allocate resources, whether it’s upgrading gas capture systems, covering high-emission areas, or planning infrastructure changes.
- Select Optimal Gas Capture System Locations: With satellite data, you can identify the best locations to install gas capture systems, targeting areas with the highest methane emissions for maximum impact.
- Ensure Gas Capture Effectiveness: Satellite monitoring ensures your gas capture system is functioning as intended. Detecting leaks or cracks prevents methane from escaping and ensures you’re not leaving money on the table. Operational optimisation and profitability go hand in hand.
- Track Effectiveness of Mitigation Efforts: Ongoing monitoring allows you to measure how effective your mitigation initiatives are, helping you demonstrate progress and adjust strategies as needed.
- Enhance Safety: Methane is not only a greenhouse gas but also a safety risk. Accurate monitoring helps detect potential hazards early, protecting workers, nearby communities, and the environment.
- Prove Your Progress: Whether responding to community concerns, securing funding for improvements, or providing updates to stakeholders, accurate data speaks louder than words.
- Stay Ahead of Regulations: By proactively monitoring and addressing emissions, you can stay ahead of compliance requirements, avoid penalties, and build trust with regulators.
Ready to Take Control of Methane at Your Landfill?
The above use case shows how satellite monitoring isn’t just about detection—it’s about delivering actionable insights that drive transformation. For landfill operators anywhere in the world, this use case serves as proof that tackling methane emissions doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The right tools and data can empower you to make progress quickly and effectively. By providing a complete view of methane emissions across vast areas, satellites allow operators to make informed decisions and turn challenges into opportunities for sustainability, community empowerment, and economic growth.
Methane may be invisible, but its impact doesn’t have to be. Harnessing the power of satellites and aircraft, GHGSat traces emissions directly to their source at an unmatched speed, delivering the data and insights required to take action. A trusted partner for organizations around the world, GHGSat empowers decision-makers to tackle emissions, accelerating progress towards a resilient energy future.
