Turning biodegradable waste into a usable soil improver carries the largest single reduction potential in the sector analysis: 1.2 Mton CO₂-eq in 2030. Composting avoids the landfill emissions that arise when organic material breaks down anaerobically; worldwide, organic waste accounts for 46% of solid waste and contributes an average of 469 tonnes CO₂-eq per million tonnes.
That this potential coincides with the upper bound of the entire sector underlines how closely landfill gas capture, recycling and composting hang together: less organic waste in the landfill means directly less methane. Composting cuts the emissions involved by more than 50% and is a flexible, scalable approach; possible carbon storage through compost as a soil improver has been left out of the calculation, which places the figure on the conservative side. Source: Climate Action Recap Gelderland (industry and business sector analysis), New Economy.