Avoiding climate change via waste management

The UK has committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But not all greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels. Waste management, which includes landfill, waste-water, incineration and composting, is estimated to contribute ~19 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents every year, with a significant portion of this derived from methane, a much more polluting gas than CO2.

Tristan Rees-White, of the University of Southampton, heads a methane emission monitoring team working to reduce emissions across the sector.

Dr Tristan Rees-White, University of Southampton