What is the most common source of methane emissions from municipal solid waste?

When organic waste materials, such as food and yard waste, are disposed of in landfills, they decompose and produce methane gas as a byproduct. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide in terms of its heat-trapping ability.

To reduce methane emissions from landfills, waste management practices such as landfill gas capture and utilization have been implemented in many communities. Landfill gas capture involves collecting the methane gas that is produced in landfills and using it as a source of energy to generate electricity or heat, reducing the release of methane into the atmosphere.