Landfills
The landfilling of organic materials leads to the anaerobic breakdown of these materials into landfill gas. Landfill gas is primarily composed of methane and, to a lesser but significant amount, volatile organic compounds (VOC). These gases are released from the landfill as fugitive emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, which is 28-36 times more potent than CO2 as a global warming gas. VOCs react with NOx emissions to form ground-level ozone. NOx is a common combustion product: flares, boilers, internal combustion engines, and other combustion processes typically generate NOx emissions. SDAPCD is working with Air Resources Board (ARB) to address methane and related emissions through implementation of various programs such as the Landfill Methane Rule.
Read the final regulation order - Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills -California Code of Regulations Title 17 Subchapter 10, Article 4, Subarticle 6, Section 95460-95476
Read more at the ARB Landfill webpage.
Landfill Methane Emissions - ARB Course 285 Video
ARB/SDAPCD Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to reduce methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills:
Other Non-Methane Landfill Regulations
San Diego APCD Rule 59 - Control of Waste Disposal Emissions
San Diego APCD Rule 59.1 Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
For more information call the Compliance Division Monday through Friday 7:00am-5:00pm at (858) 586-2650 or email apcdcomp@sdapcd.org.