The Landfill Methane Regulations (SOR/2025-279) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, establish a federal framework to reduce methane emissions from landfills receiving municipal solid waste. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, responsible for approximately 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times, and has a significantly higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

In 2023, Canadian landfills contributed 17% of national methane emissions, equating to 2.7% of overall greenhouse gas emissions. Despite past voluntary initiatives and provincial regulations, additional emission reductions are achievable through a consistent, performance-based federal regulatory approach that sets surface methane concentration limits and mandates regular monitoring to detect leaks and optimize methane recovery.

The rationale for the regulations stems from Canada’s broader climate strategy, including the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the Methane Strategy, and commitments to the Global Methane Pledge. The regulations aim to reduce methane emissions from Canadian landfills by approximately 50% below 2019 levels by 2035. Methane is considered a short-lived climate pollutant, which means reductions can have near-term climate benefits. Addressing landfill methane emissions, therefore, contributes both to domestic targets and international climate commitments, and complements existing market-based policies, such as the Clean Fuel Regulations and the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System, which incentivize methane recovery projects through tradable compliance and offset credits.

Methane emissions at landfills arise from the anaerobic decomposition of biodegradable waste, producing landfill gas composed of 40% to 60% methane alongside carbon dioxide and other non-methane organic compounds. Methane generated in this manner is anthropogenic and adds to national greenhouse gas inventories, whereas biogenic carbon dioxide is considered carbon neutral. Emissions occur through fugitive releases across landfill surfaces, from active disposal areas, and from equipment leaks. Effective mitigation combines waste diversion strategies, including composting, anaerobic digestion, and recycling, with engineered systems that recover methane for combustion or energy production. Combustion converts methane into carbon dioxide. Emerging technologies, including biocovers, biowindows, and biofilters, further reduce methane emissions by enabling microbial oxidation of methane before release into the atmosphere.

The regulations are projected to generate significant social and economic benefits. Between 2026 and 2040, implementation costs are estimated at $808 million, while cumulative greenhouse gas reductions of approximately 100 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent are expected, representing a monetized benefit of $9.5 billion from avoided climate damages. This results in net benefits of $8.7 billion and an average cost of $8 per tonne of CO2 equivalent mitigated.

Canada (279/2025) January 6, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.