Highlights

Current trends

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) estimates for waste emissions increased by 4.9% in 2022
• Decreases were reported in six of the last seven years (2016-2022)
• In 2022, GHG emissions were 49.3% below 1990 levels

Cause

• Long-term decreases are a result of decreased quantities of municipal solid wastes (MSW) disposed of at landfills and a decrease in the proportion of organic materials (food and garden waste) in MSW as well as a diversion of paper products from landfills.

Outlook

• Emissions projected to decrease by 18% under With Existing measures scenario

Waste sector

The waste sector includes emission estimates from solid waste disposal, composting, waste incineration (excluding waste to energy), open burning of waste and wastewater treatment and discharge. The largest of these sources is solid waste disposal on land (landfills) where methane (CH₄) is the gas concerned.

Emissions from the waste sector increased by 4.9% in 2022, with increases in sub category landfills of 7.1%.  Long-term decreases are a result of decreased quantities of municipal solid wastes (MSW) disposed of at landfills and a decrease in the proportion of organic materials (food and garden waste) in MSW as well as a diversion of paper products from landfills. Improved management of landfill facilities, including increased recovery of landfill gas utilised for electricity generation and flaring is also a big driver in decreased emissions from the waste sector. in 2022 actual generation of methane at landfills fell 6.0% however, methane flared and utilised for electricity generation fell by 14.0% giving a net overall increase in emissions.

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