Textile Waste to Landfill
Reviewed by Afonso Firmo, Co-Founder & Director · Updated 7 July 2026
Textile waste sent to landfill carries a factor of 2.0 t CO₂-e per tonne under NGA Factors 2025. See worked examples, FAQs and a calculator for your reports.
Emission Factor Value
2 t CO₂-e/tonne
Try it with your own numbers
Estimated emissions
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Emissions from waste you send to landfill are reported under Scope 3. Calculated as tonnes of textiles × 2.0 t CO₂-e per tonne (NGA Factors 2025). Cubic metres are converted at 0.14 tonnes per m³.
Official Source & Citation
This emission factor is sourced from the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025 , Table 15 — Waste mix methane conversion and emission factors, published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
Citation: DCCEEW (2025). Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025. Commonwealth of Australia. Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-greenhouse-accounts-factors-2025
Notes
Scope 3 factor for organisations sending textile waste to landfill, from the NGA Factors 2025. Emissions arise from anaerobic decomposition of natural fibres producing methane. 1 tonne of textiles sent to landfill = 2.0 t CO₂-e. For volume records, apply 0.14 tonnes per cubic metre. The landfill operator reports the direct methane emissions under Scope 1.
Calculation Example
If a clothing retailer sent 5 tonnes of textile waste to landfill during the year:
| Working | Result |
|---|---|
| 5 t × 2.0 t CO₂-e/t | 10 t CO₂-e (Scope 3) |
Australia sends staggering quantities of clothing, linen and offcut fabric to landfill, and every tonne of it carries a factor of 2.0 t CO₂-e — essentially the same emissions intensity as food waste. Cotton, wool and other natural fibres decompose anaerobically underground, generating methane that ends up on your Scope 3 inventory.
Retailers, uniform-heavy employers, hotels and linen services are the usual owners of this stream, and most underestimate it because textiles hide inside general waste bins.
Quick Verdict
Textile waste sent to landfill has an emission factor of 2.0 t CO₂-e per tonne under the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025, applying to the 2025–26 reporting year. The waste generator reports these emissions under Scope 3; the landfill operator reports the direct methane under Scope 1. Volume records convert at 0.14 tonnes per cubic metre. Reuse, donation and fibre recycling avoid the landfill factor entirely, making textiles a strong diversion target. A Scope 3 emissions calculator can apply the factor straight from contractor invoices.
How to Calculate Textile Waste Emissions
Emissions (t CO₂-e) = Waste to landfill (tonnes) × 2.0
Worked Example 1: Clothing retailer
A retailer sends 5 tonnes of unsold and damaged stock to landfill during the year.
5 t × 2.0 = 10 t CO₂-e (Scope 3)
Worked Example 2: Commercial linen service
A linen and laundry business disposes of 22 tonnes of end-of-life sheets and towels to landfill.
22 t × 2.0 = 44 t CO₂-e (Scope 3)
Worked Example 3: Volume records only
A hotel group records 50 m³ of textile waste sent to landfill. Using the NGA volume-to-mass factor of 0.14 t/m³:
50 m³ × 0.14 t/m³ = 7 t
7 t × 2.0 = 14 t CO₂-e (Scope 3)
Textiles vs Other Landfill Streams
| Waste stream (to landfill) | Factor (t CO₂-e/t) |
|---|---|
| Paper and cardboard | 3.3 |
| Food waste | 2.1 |
| Textiles | 2.0 |
| Nappies | 2.0 |
| Municipal solid waste (mixed) | 1.6 |
| Wood waste | 0.7 |
| Construction and demolition waste | 0.2 |
All factors from NGA Factors 2025, expressed in CO₂-equivalent.
NGER and AASB S2 Reporting
Waste-to-landfill emissions are Scope 3 for the generator, so they do not count toward NGER thresholds — but AASB S2 requires material Scope 3 categories to be disclosed, and waste routinely qualifies. Keep contractor weight or volume records as your audit trail and apply the NGA Factors 2025 value consistently.
Related Emission Factors
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer
This page is provided for general information, not professional or compliance advice. The factor shown is reproduced from the official publication cited above, and while we work to keep it current, government factors change — the publication is always the authoritative source.
- Before using this value in any formal reporting — including under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 — confirm it against the current official publication and the methods specified by the Clean Energy Regulator.
- NetNada is independent of the Australian Government, DCCEEW, and the Clean Energy Regulator. Government data is Crown copyright, Commonwealth of Australia.