Essential steps to comply with Canada’s new landfill gas regulations

Landfills are a source of greenhouse gas due to methane emissions, which represent up to 24% of Canada’s total methane emissions. Because of this, Canada has introduced new measures to regulate methane emissions from landfills. The Landfill Methane Regulations: SOR/2025-279 (Landfill Methane Regulations), which came into force on December 12, 2025, aim to reduce total methane emissions from Canadian landfills by about 42 percent by 2030 and 50% by 2035 (from 2019 levels). With the new regulations, this sets minimum standards for controlling landfill methane emissions in the country for the first time. 

So, what does this mean for landfills operating in Canada? If you operate a landfill, you may be wondering how these regulations affect you and how you can best navigate them while saving added costs and remaining compliant and socially responsible. GHD has developed a list of commonly asked questions that help address the necessary steps for assessing landfill gas quantities and addressing any required changes to capture or reduce methane emissions to remain in good standing with Landfill Methane Regulations. 

The Landfill Methane Regulations requires medium and large landfills in Canada to report and reduce methane emissions by 2030. This involves quantifying and reporting the amounts of landfill gas, monitoring surface emissions, monitoring point source emissions (e.g., extraction wells, leachate chambers, condensate chambers) and implementing a methane control system. 

1. Landfills accepting any quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) after January 1, 2010 and that have more than 450,000 tonnes of MSW in place.
2. Landfills exceeding either 200,000 tonnes of MSW in place and 20,000 tonnes MSW disposed of in 2025 or any subsequent calendar year. 

For a visual representation of the next steps, we have created a flow chart. 

First, confirm if your landfill is applicable based on the MSW tonnage thresholds. If so, an initial methane generation assessment is required. The assessment requires the use of the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Landfill Methane Modelling Tool to determine if the annual methane generation at any particular landfill site reaches a threshold of 664 tonnes of methane per year and 1,000 tonnes of methane per year. This is equal to 65.8 cubic feet per minute or 18,592 tonnes CO2e and 99.1 cubic feet per minute or 28,000 tonnes CO2e based upon a methane global warming potential of 28. The initial methane generation assessment is required by June 10, 2026.

If the 664 tonnes of methane threshold is not exceeded, an annual methane generation assessment is required until exceedances are reported, or the landfill has been closed.
 
If the 1,000 tonnes of methane threshold is exceeded and the landfill has implemented a methane control approach (e.g., landfill gas (LFG) collection and control system, biocover or biowindow), they must meet the performance standards as indicated in the regulations by January 1, 2028. This will include conducting surface emissions monitoring and methane leak detection three times per year (separated by an interval of at least 60 days) for landfill gas management systems, and monitor landfill gas recovery wells monthly.

If the 1,000 tonnes of methane threshold is exceeded and the landfill has not yet implemented a methane control approach (e.g., LFG collection and control system, biocover or biowindow), they must implement a methane control approach and meet the performance standards as indicated in the regulations by January 1, 2029. If the methane generation is estimated greater than 664 tonnes of methane and less than 1,000 tonnes of methane threshold, they must implement a methane control approach and meet the performance standards as indicated in the regulations by January 1, 2035. Following 2035, landfills that generate within this range must meet the regulations four (4) years after exceedance.

For landfills registered under a carbon offset project since December 12, 2025, they must meet performance standards as indicated in the regulations by the year following the end of the offset crediting period.

The regulations require landfill owners, both municipal and private, to measure, monitor and manage LFG to reduce methane emissions. This will mean mandatory compliance of the above requirements as well as annual reporting of methane emissions with and without a methane control system.

1. The first step is to assess your landfill and if the methane generation assessment is required. We can help you interpret the Landfill Methane Regulations and determine applicability. 

2. Estimate the current and future landfill gas generation potential of the site using the ECCC model.

3. If landfill gas generations exceed the thresholds, the landfill will need to implement mitigation strategies including landfill gas capture systems . Our team provides engineering support on the feasibility, design, construction, operations and monitoring of methane control systems, or implementation of surface emission measurements in order to support clients that exceed the federal threshold.

4. To meet the performance standards, monitoring will be needed. This includes monitoring of surface emissions and point-source emissions. GHD has been actively involved in methane emissions monitoring across Canada for many years, including the use of ground-based (handheld) devices and drones. There are various ways to measure and quantify landfill gases. While alternative approaches will need federal approval, our team can help you choose the right solution to monitor and measure landfill gases and help you better understand your current emissions and manage them in the future. 
   Read more about the different ways to measure and quantify landfill gas.

We can help you navigate Canada’s Landfill Methane Regulations with ease. Contact us to discuss the details of your landfill and proactively gather the data needed to report on landfill gas while reducing emissions and helping to move closer to the nation’s sustainability targets.