UN report ranks Chile landfills as the top emitters of methane
A recent study by the UN Environment agency has revealed that a landfill on the outskirts Santiago, Chile's capital is one of the largest sources of methane-based climate warming gas in the world.
According to data derived from satellite images, published by the United Nations Environment Programme in April, the Lomas Los Colorados landfill is the site with the highest level of methane emission.
Juan Jose Garces is the head of the Civil Engineering and Environment Department at the University of Santiago.
About 60 km (37miles) north of the city is a pyramid-shaped landfill that receives waste from homes in an area with more than 7 million residents.
Management company KDM Empresas said that since 2007, the program has been used to fuel a nearby electricity station by converting captured methane in to?biogas.
In a press release, it stated that "this not only mitigates greenhouse effect but also turns an environmental liability into clean, useful energy."
According to a U.N. report, the compressed trash heap emits 102,667 tons of methane per year. This is equivalent to the emissions produced by nearly 2 million cars driven each year.
This is a little over 20,000 tons higher than the second listed site, a?facility for oil and gas in Turkmenistan. The next 20?sites generate, on average, about 60,000 tonnes less.
UNEP's Methane Alert and Response System monitors and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Methane contributes to global warming in a big way.
UNEP's findings from April stated that "These are significant emissions across the oil, gas, coal and waste sectors which emit continuously or often."
FLIES AND ODORS - 24 HOUR A DAY
Patricio Salagado (70), who lives close to the landfill, says that the waste attracts flies, and creates foul smells. This can make neighbors feel helpless.
He said, "They make our lives harder 24 hours a days." It's not pleasant.
KDM 'Empresas', a part of the U.S./Spanish Urbaser Danner group, criticized UNEP for its analysis, which was based on one?measurement taken in early 2026, that did not reflect changing weather conditions and daily operations.
The company said in its statement that the project for biogas extraction and energy recovery will prevent the emission of over 700?million cubic metres of methane, and 11 millions of tons of CO2 from 2007 to 2025.
KDM reported that the energy generated, which could reach 100,000 megawatt hours (MWh), is used to power Loma Los Colossas.
Marcelo Mena is a professor at the chemistry and engineering school of the Catholic University of Valparaiso. He called for more efforts to separate organic waste, like food scraps.
He said that if we can remove the smells in organic waste, and treat them through anaerobic digesting or composting, then this should accelerate.
(source: Reuters)
