Waste Industry Concerned About Regulation of Greenhouse Gases

Date: August 27, 2007

Source: News Room

The waste management industry is lobbying state officials, particularly in California, on proposals for reporting and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including seeking credits for efforts to reduce landfill methane releases. The current efforts which are focused on California's emerging program are likely to shape the course of action in other states and at the federal level. While pending legislation in Congress does not target landfills, several other states are floating requirements that landfills report emissions to varying degrees of stringency. The industry wants to minimize the level of regulation while seeking credit for actions already taken to reduce GHG emissions, such as using technologies to convert methane gas into electricity and biogas fuels. The stakes are high since compliance costs imply a financial burden. Currently, the industry can profit by generating sellable credits in cap-and-trade programs, but this would likely go away if GHG emission reductions become mandatory.

For more information:
(www.nswma.org/GHG_WastePaper.pdf)

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