Landfills account for 21% of all non-energy carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Gelderland, making them the single largest emission factor in the province. These are emissions unrelated to energy use, consisting mainly of methane released as landfilled waste breaks down.
That one waste source determines such a large part of provincial non-energy emissions explains why the sector analysis puts the emphasis on landfill gas. The industry and business sector as a whole causes 41% of non-energy emissions; well over half of that traces back to landfills alone. Capturing landfill gas and keeping organic material out of the landfill are therefore the most decisive measures. Source: Climate Action Recap Gelderland (industry and business sector analysis), New Economy.