About 20% of the landfill capacity in use in the Netherlands lies in Gelderland. Four landfills remain active in the province, while nearly 800 former landfills still emit greenhouse gases; the province carries the perpetual aftercare of these sites.
That concentration explains why landfills form the single largest non-energy emission source in Gelderland. At former landfills, methane keeps forming because landfilled organic material breaks down anaerobically for years, long after a site has closed. Capturing landfill gas is therefore promising, above all in combination with more recycling and composting, which means less new landfill gas forms. The size of the stock of closed sites makes the task structural and long-running. Source: Climate Action Recap Gelderland (industry and business sector analysis), New Economy.