World Biogas Association Released Landfill Gas Strategy
The trade body outlined measures to capture 760 million tonnes of methane emissions annually by COP31.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Energy
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The World Biogas Association has released a new position statement detailing methods to mitigate global landfill methane emissions. The framework emphasizes upgrading landfill gas capture to reduce environmental impact as international attention turns to the COP31 climate conference.
Why it matters
Landfill sites currently represent a significant share of waste-sector methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. This initiative provides a technical roadmap to integrate landfill management into national carbon reduction targets ahead of COP31.
Landfill gas accounts for 81 percent of waste-sector methane emissions in the United Kingdom, illustrating the scale of capture required. Scaling the industry faces a timeline pressure as Renewables Obligation support for electricity generators ends in 2027.
The players
World Biogas Association
An international trade body focused on the anaerobic digestion and biogas sector that supports methane reduction initiatives.
The details
The strategy proposes upgrading landfill gas into biomethane, a renewable fuel produced through the anaerobic digestion of organic matter. By employing improved monitoring and investment measures, operators can transition from standard gas flaring to active energy recovery. This process captures methane that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere, converting it into a stable, usable energy source.
Timeline
2027: End of UK Renewables Obligation support for landfill-gas generators.
COP31: Global conference for waste and methane reduction action agenda in Antalya.
The Tech Race
This strategy positions landfill gas management as a central component of the COP31 Zero Waste and Methane Reduction agenda. It serves as a necessary technical extension to the global effort to standardize methane measurement and capture across waste infrastructure.
Municipal operators and waste management firms must prepare for shifting policy landscapes as existing government subsidies in regions like the UK conclude by 2027. Future landfill projects will likely require adoption of these gas-to-biomethane technologies to maintain economic viability and regulatory compliance.
The takeaway
The industry is shifting toward high-efficiency biomethane production to capitalize on methane mitigation as a standard for future waste management. Stakeholders should monitor the specific policy frameworks adopted by national governments in the lead-up to the COP31 conference in Antalya.
Further reading
For broader context on current shifts in the sector, explore the Energy research hub.
Source note: This article includes information reported by World Biogas Association (WBA).
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Should governments prioritize landfill gas capture as a primary tool for reducing national methane emissions?
