This automated tool helps tackle methane emissions from landfills

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🗞️ Driving the news: LoCI Controls has developed an automated system using sensors to help landfills reduce methane leaks by continuously monitoring and adjusting gas extraction systems
• This approach increases methane capture by 15-25%, according to company data, helping to mitigate the climate impact of methane, a potent greenhouse gas
• The technology provides real-time data to detect leaks and improve gas collection efficiency

🔭 The context: Methane emissions from landfills account for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, but traditional monitoring methods are infrequent and often miss leaks
• LoCI’s automated system allows for continuous monitoring, addressing fluctuations caused by dynamic landfill conditions
• The U.S. EPA requires landfills to limit methane emissions, but enforcement largely relies on manual inspections

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Methane traps 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years, making its reduction critical for near-term climate action
• Enhanced methane capture at landfills could significantly curb emissions, contributing to global decarbonization efforts
• Scaling up technologies like automated well tuning could play a vital role in meeting climate targets

⏭️ What's next: Some states, like Colorado and California, are considering making automated methane monitoring a regulatory requirement
• Adoption is currently higher in large landfills that convert methane to biogas, but regulatory changes could drive wider implementation
• Future landfill monitoring may combine various technologies, including satellites, drones, and automated systems

💬 One quote: "If it’s truly a 15 to 25 percent increase in gas collection, that’s kind of a game changer," – Tom Frankiewicz, RMI’s waste-sector methane expert

📈 One stat: A study found that 96% of landfills across eight states had methane leakage exceeding legal limits

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