Complejo Ambiental Norte III identified as world's top methane-emitting landfill

A report from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has identified the Complejo Ambiental Norte III in Argentina as the world's largest source of methane emissions from a landfill. Located near Buenos Aires, the 500-hectare site receives approximately 436,000 tons of waste monthly, accounting for nearly 45% of Argentina's total waste.

Using satellite data from the NASA EMIT instrument and Carbon Mapper via the Tanager-1 satellite, UCLA's STOP Methane project ranked the facility first in absolute emissions within the solid waste category. Researcher Juan Pablo Escudero noted that satellites detected over 110 methane plumes during multiple passes, highlighting the site's significant environmental impact, as methane is considered much more potent than carbon dioxide regarding climate change.

The findings have sparked controversy. CEAMSE, the state-owned company operating the landfill, has questioned the satellite methodology, arguing that the site's massive scale may distort the data and asserting that their technical analyses and mitigation plans provide a different perspective. UCLA clarified that satellite captures are instantaneous snapshots rather than a full annual inventory.