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Audit-Ready Carbon Reporting for Waste Operators

Track landfill methane emissions, waste-to-energy carbon, recycling avoided emissions, and collection fleet diesel—measuring waste diversion impact.

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The Industry Hotspot: Landfill Methane Emissions

70-85% from landfill methane

For waste management companies, 70-85% of emissions are fugitive methane from landfills (Scope 1). Organic waste decomposition releases CH4 (GWP = 28). A landfill accepting 1 million tonnes/year of municipal solid waste generates ~50,000 tCH4/year if uncontrolled (~1.4M tCO2e). Landfill gas (LFG) capture systems collect 60-90% of methane for flaring or energy generation. Collection truck fleets add 10-20% of footprint (diesel Scope 1). NetNada calculates landfill methane using EPA LandGEM model, tracks gas capture efficiency, quantifies avoided emissions from recycling, and reports fleet fuel consumption.

SASB Industry Definition

The Waste Management industry consists of entities that collect, transport, process, recycle, and dispose of solid waste and hazardous waste. Operations include residential and commercial waste collection via truck fleets, landfill operations with methane capture and energy recovery, recycling facilities (MRF - material recovery facilities), composting, and waste-to-energy incineration. Revenue comes from tipping fees, collection contracts, recyclable commodity sales, and landfill gas energy sales.

View SASB Standard →

Industry-Specific Carbon Accounting

No generic solutions. Metrics, data sources, and reporting aligned to Waste Management operations.

Landfill Methane Emissions Calculation (EPA LandGEM)

Use EPA LandGEM model: Input waste acceptance rate (tonnes/year), waste composition (% food, paper, wood), climate (precipitation, temperature), gas capture efficiency. Model calculates methane generation over landfill lifetime. Captured methane = LFG collected × % CH4 (typically 50-55%). Fugitive methane = Generated - Captured. Convert to CO2e using GWP 28.

LandGEM model emissions

Landfill Gas Capture Efficiency Tracking

Capture rate = (LFG collected ÷ Methane generated) × 100%. Typical range: 60-90% for active collection, <30% for passive. Higher capture = Lower fugitive emissions + More energy revenue. Track monthly: LFG collected (scfm), % CH4, energy generated (kWh). Benchmark vs industry (75% capture is good practice).

Gas capture rate %

Recycling Avoided Emissions Quantification

Recycling avoids virgin material production emissions. Aluminum recycling avoids 95% of primary production (8 tCO2/tonne aluminum). Paper recycling avoids 50% (1.5 tCO2/tonne). Plastic recycling avoids 60-80%. Calculate: Tonnes recycled × Avoided emission factor = Tonnes CO2 avoided. Report separately from Scope 1 (not a direct reduction).

Avoided emissions calculated

Collection Fleet Fuel Tracking

Import fleet fuel card data: Diesel gallons × 10.2 kgCO2/gallon = Fleet Scope 1 emissions. Track by route efficiency: Tonnes collected per gallon (higher = better). CNG trucks emit 20-30% less than diesel. Electric trucks emit 0 Scope 1 (Scope 2 from charging). Calculate fleet transition ROI.

Fleet fuel efficiency tracked

Waste-to-Energy Carbon Accounting

Incineration of municipal solid waste: Biogenic fraction (food, paper, wood) = carbon-neutral. Fossil fraction (plastics) = emissions counted. Typical MSW 60% biogenic, 40% fossil. Energy recovery offsets grid electricity. Calculate: kWh generated × Grid emission factor = Avoided emissions. Net impact = Fossil CO2 - Avoided grid CO2.

WTE net emissions

SASB IF-WM Metrics Automation

Auto-generate disclosure: Gross Scope 1 emissions, landfill gas capture %, waste diversion rate, fleet alternative fuel %, safety incident rate. Footnotes cite EPA LandGEM methodology and waste composition analysis.

SASB IF-WM compliant

Product Features for Waste Management

Use Carbon Data Uploader to import landfill gas flow data, waste acceptance tonnage, and fleet fuel consumption for automated emissions calculations. Learn more →

The Activity Calculator applies EPA LandGEM factors for landfill methane and emission factors for fleet diesel, CNG, and electric vehicles. Learn more →

Related Solutions

See our Carbon Accounting solution for end-to-end waste management emissions tracking from landfill gas through fleet and recycling operations.

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Waste Management Case Studies

How entities in this industry use NetNada to solve carbon accounting challenges.

Regional Waste Hauler (500,000 tonnes/year, 200 collection trucks, 2 landfills)

Challenge

Corporate customers required Scope 3 Category 5 (waste disposal) emissions data for their reporting. Manual calculations from waste tonnage took 80 hours/quarter. Landfill methane estimates had 40% uncertainty range.

Solution

Deployed NetNada with automated waste tracking integration. For each customer: Tonnes waste collected × EPA emission factor (0.5 tCO2e/tonne landfilled, 0.02 tCO2e/tonne recycled). Calculated landfill methane using LandGEM model with 75% capture efficiency. Generated customer carbon reports showing emissions by waste stream.

Result

Reduced reporting time from 80 hours to 10 hours per quarter. Served 150 corporate customers with Scope 3 Category 5 emissions data. Identified opportunity: Launched 'carbon dashboard' service charging $500/month premium—$75k/year new revenue stream.

Integrated Waste Operator (3 landfills with LFG-to-energy, 12 MRFs)

Challenge

Investors required disclosure of landfill gas capture efficiency and revenue from renewable energy. 3 landfills had different capture rates (60%, 80%, 90%). Needed to prioritize LFG system upgrades.

Solution

Used NetNada to model each landfill: Waste input, LandGEM methane generation, actual LFG collected, capture %. Calculated: Landfill A generates 20,000 tCH4/year but captures only 12,000 (60%) → 8,000 tCH4 fugitive (224,000 tCO2e lost). Modeled expansion: Increase capture to 80% → Reduce fugitive by 4,000 tCH4 (112,000 tCO2e).

Result

Approved $8M LFG system expansion at Landfill A. Increased capture 60% → 82% over 2 years. Additional LFG electricity: 6 GWh/year → $600k/year revenue. Fugitive methane reduced by 100,000 tCO2e/year. Published in sustainability report: '85% average landfill gas capture across portfolio'.

SASB Disclosure Topics for Waste Management

Material sustainability topics beyond emissions that investors and stakeholders expect disclosed per SASB standards.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

environment

Track Scope 1 emissions from landfill methane (fugitive and captured), waste-to-energy combustion, and collection fleet diesel. Report methane capture rate % and landfill gas energy recovery.

Waste Diversion and Recycling

environment

Report tonnes of waste recycled, composted, and sent to landfill. Calculate waste diversion rate % and avoided emissions from recycling vs virgin material production.

Fleet Emissions and Efficiency

environment

Track collection truck fuel consumption (diesel, CNG, electric). Report fleet fuel efficiency (mpg or kWh/mile) and % of fleet using alternative fuels.

Leachate and Water Management

environment

Monitor landfill leachate generation, treatment, and discharge quality. Report groundwater monitoring for contamination prevention.

Workforce Health and Safety

social

Track injury rates for collection workers and landfill operators (high-risk occupations). Report safety training hours and lost-time incident frequency.

Circular Economy Business Model

business model

Disclose revenue from recycling operations, waste-to-energy, and landfill gas-to-energy. Report % revenue from waste diversion vs disposal.

NetNada tracks all SASB material topics, not just emissions. Our platform supports disclosure across environmental, social, governance, and business model topics relevant to your industry.

Waste Management FAQs

Common questions about carbon accounting for this industry

How do you calculate methane emissions from a landfill using the EPA LandGEM model?
EPA LandGEM (Landfill Gas Emissions Model) inputs: (1) Annual waste acceptance tonnage by year, (2) Waste composition (% food, paper, yard waste), (3) Methane generation rate constant (k, climate-dependent: wet climate 0.05, arid 0.02), (4) Potential methane generation capacity (L₀, ~170 m³ CH4/tonne MSW). Model calculates methane generation over time. Subtract landfill gas collected to get fugitive methane. Convert to CO2e using GWP 28. Report captured methane as Scope 1 (if flared or combusted) or avoided emissions (if displacing fossil fuels).
Should we count emissions from landfill gas flaring or energy generation?
Yes, both are Scope 1 but different accounting: (1) Flaring = Landfill gas (50% CH4) combusted to CO2. Methane GWP 28 → CO2 GWP 1. Flaring reduces climate impact 28x but generates Scope 1 CO2. (2) Energy generation = Same CO2 emissions from combustion, but displaces fossil fuel electricity (avoided emissions, not a Scope reduction). Report: Scope 1 from combustion + Separate line for avoided grid emissions. Net climate impact = Lower with energy recovery than flaring.
How do you calculate avoided emissions from recycling?
Avoided emissions = Emissions from virgin production - Emissions from recycling. Examples: Aluminum (95% avoided, 8 tCO2/tonne), Steel (58% avoided, 1.3 tCO2/tonne), Paper (50% avoided, 1.5 tCO2/tonne), PET plastic (60% avoided, 1.5 tCO2/tonne). Multiply tonnes recycled × Avoided factor. This is NOT a Scope 1/2 reduction—report separately as 'avoided emissions from waste diversion'. Helps demonstrate environmental value of recycling services.
Are biogenic emissions from organic waste decomposition counted in our carbon footprint?
Depends on waste type and end state. Food/yard waste decomposing in landfills → CH4 release (counted as Scope 1 because methane is potent GHG). If composted aerobically → CO2 release (biogenic, excluded from Scope 1 per GHG Protocol). Wood waste: Landfilled = CH4 (counted), Composted = CO2 (biogenic, excluded). Plastics (fossil-origin): All emissions counted. Key: Methane from biogenic sources still counts due to 28x warming potential.
How do we report emissions for waste-to-energy incineration?
Separate biogenic and fossil fractions. Municipal solid waste typically 60% biogenic (food, paper, wood), 40% fossil (plastics). Biogenic CO2 from combustion = excluded per GHG Protocol. Fossil CO2 = Scope 1. Energy generated displaces grid electricity = avoided emissions (reported separately). Example: 1,000 tonnes MSW → 400 tonnes fossil fraction × 2.5 tCO2/tonne = 1,000 tCO2 Scope 1. Generate 500 MWh electricity × 0.6 tCO2/MWh grid factor = 300 tCO2 avoided. Net: 700 tCO2.

Track Landfill Methane, Fleet Emissions, and Recycling Impact

See how waste management companies calculate landfill gas emissions, measure fleet efficiency, and quantify avoided emissions from recycling—automated.

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