Which greenhouse gas is primarily produced in landfills due to solid waste disposal?

Methane is the greenhouse gas primarily produced in landfills due to the decomposition of organic matter in anaerobic (oxygen-deprived) conditions. When solid waste, especially organic materials such as food and yard waste, is buried in landfills, it decomposes through microbial activity that does not have access to oxygen. This process generates methane as a byproduct, which is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential many times greater than that of carbon dioxide.

While carbon dioxide is also emitted during the decomposition of organic materials, methane is specifically associated with the anaerobic conditions found in landfills. Nitrous oxide, on the other hand, is typically emitted from agricultural practices and is not directly related to landfill operations. Sulfur hexafluoride is a synthetic gas used in various industrial applications, but it is not related to solid waste disposal. Therefore, methane stands out as the primary greenhouse gas produced in landfills, emphasizing the impact of waste management on climate change.