Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Estimated CO2e from landfill methane
170.10
Methane generated
6,075
Organic tons landfilled
67.5
CO2e per ton landfilled
1.134
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How to use this
- 1Enter total waste to landfill (tons/yr).
- 2Enter share that is organic (food, yard, paper) (%).
- 3Enter ch4 generation factor (kg CH4/ton organic).
- 4Enter ch4 global warming potential (100-yr).
- 5Read your estimated co2e from landfill methane on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Organic material sent to landfill decomposes anaerobically and generates methane, a greenhouse gas roughly 28-84 times more potent than CO2 depending on the time horizon used. This calculator estimates the methane emissions attributable to your landfilled waste stream, applying EPA's WARM model logic that differentiates organic-heavy waste (food scraps, yard waste, paper) from inert waste (glass, metal, plastic), since only the organic fraction generates significant landfill gas. It's the number that makes composting programs look far better on a carbon basis than the diversion-rate percentage alone suggests — diverting one ton of food waste from landfill to compost avoids far more emissions per ton than diverting a ton of glass or metal, because the counterfactual landfill methane from organics is so much higher than the near-zero landfill emissions from inert material.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Total waste to landfill: 150 tons/yr
- Share that is organic (food, yard, paper): 45 %
- CH4 generation factor: 90 kg CH4/ton organic
- CH4 global warming potential (100-yr): 28
Results
- Estimated CO2e from landfill methane: 170.1
- Methane generated: 6,075
- Organic tons landfilled: 67.5
- CO2e per ton landfilled: 1.134
What each field means
Inputs
- Total waste to landfill (tons/yr)
- The total waste to landfill used in the calculation, measured in tons/yr. Starts at 150 tons/yr so you have a working example on load.
- Share that is organic (food, yard, paper) (%)
- The share that is organic (food, yard, paper) used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 45 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–100 %.
- CH4 generation factor (kg CH4/ton organic)
- The ch4 generation factor used in the calculation, measured in kg CH4/ton organic. Starts at 90 kg CH4/ton organic so you have a working example on load.
- CH4 global warming potential (100-yr)
- The ch4 global warming potential (100-yr) used in the calculation. Starts at 28 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 20–90.
Results
- Estimated CO2e from landfill methane
- Returned as a whole number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Methane generated
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Organic tons landfilled
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- CO2e per ton landfilled
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why use a GWP of 28 instead of methane's higher 20-year value?
The 100-year GWP (around 28-36 per IPCC AR5/AR6) is the standard used in most national inventories and corporate reporting frameworks. Some climate scientists argue the 20-year GWP (around 80-85) better reflects methane's near-term warming impact since it's a short-lived gas; check which convention your specific disclosure framework requires before publishing a number.
Does this account for landfill gas capture systems?
No — this is an uncontrolled emissions estimate. Many large modern landfills capture 60-90% of generated methane for flaring or energy recovery, which substantially cuts actual atmospheric emissions. If you know your waste goes to a landfill with gas capture, apply that capture rate as a reduction to the result here for a more accurate number.
Why does diverting food waste matter more than diverting recyclables for climate impact?
Ton for ton, food waste generates far more landfill methane than almost any other waste category because it's highly organic and decomposes quickly. Composting or anaerobic digestion avoids that methane generation almost entirely, which is why food waste diversion often shows up as the single highest-impact waste program per ton, even though recyclables usually dominate diversion-rate percentages.
Accuracy and limitations
- Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
- Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.
- Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote.
Related tools
Waste Diversion Rate & Hauling Savings Calculator
Diversion percentage from landfill, plus hauling cost savings from recycling.
Compost Diversion Savings Calculator
Cost and emissions savings from composting instead of landfilling food waste.
Scope 1 & 2 Emissions Calculator
Estimate direct and purchased-energy emissions from utility bills.
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Landfill Methane Emissions Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/methane-landfill-emissions
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/methane-landfill-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Landfill Methane Emissions Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Landfill Methane Emissions Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/methane-landfill-emissions) (2026).