Campinas region leads São Paulo biometane output amid resident odor complaints

The Campinas area accounts for 47% of daily biometane production in São Paulo, generating roughly 110,000 m³ of renewable gas per day at the Paulínia landfill – the largest in Brazil, which receives about 4.5 tonnes of household waste from 28 municipalities. The facility, operating a new biometane plant, could double its output to 220,000 m³ per day.

Neighbouring residents have long reported a strong smell and the presence of gases not covered by existing legislation. A local engineer measured concentrations above international safety limits, while authorities from the São Paulo State Environmental Agency (Cetesb) say recent inspections found no violations in the plant’s control systems. The operating company asserts continuous monitoring and contingency plans to address any operational failures.

Biometane production in the state has risen sharply from about 1 million m³ in 2002 to more than 42 million m³ in 2025, with projections of up to 685,000 m³ daily in the coming months, driven by the high demand from heavy‑fleet operators in the region.