Combined with existing rules for landfill sites, the province believes the new regulations will reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by over four million tones.

Operators will be allowed to burn off the gas or use it to generate electricity.

The regulations will apply to landfills larger than 1.5 million cubic metres with government funding available to offset the capital costs available for smaller operators.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 21 times that of carbon dioxide.

“Capturing landfill gas has so many benefits – to our planet, our

environment and to local residents,” said Ontario’s Environment Minister John Gerretsen.

“Not only will it help us meet our climate change goals, it will improve local air quality. Landfill gas contains trace amounts of other compounds, such as hydrogen sulphide, which can cause odours or affect local air quality.

Walt Graziani, president of methane capture company Integrated Gas Recovery Services (IGRS) of Cambridge Ontario.

“IGRS, with our partners in the municipal and private sector have been utilizing landfill gas for years.

“We look forward to continuing our efforts to help protect the environment, as well as continuing to produce and sell renewable energy and emission credits from all of our Ontario facilities.”

Sam Bond

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