The overexploitation of natural resources and increasing dependence on these sources have caused an increase in solid waste generation, aggravating environmental impacts and contributing significantly to climate change through enhanced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This scenario highlights the urgent need for circular economy strategies focused on reducing carbon emissions and mitigating environmental impacts. Continuous monitoring is crucial to evaluate current conditions and guide effective measures in the transition toward a sustainable waste management model. This study quantifies the total potential methane (CH4) emissions and analyzes the variation in CH4 production over time within a solid waste treatment and disposal facility. Emissions were estimated using three methodologies: the standard Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach, the LandGEM® model (V3.02) provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the triangular gas production model. The results indicate peak emissions of approximately 72,82 and 2,30E-3 Gg for the IPCC and triangular models, respectively, while the LandGEM® model predicted a substantially higher peak of 8,31 Gg, suggesting emissions could persist for up to 124 years post-closure. In this study, the results are not directly comparable, as the estimates are strongly dependent on the assumptions and parameters adopted, reinforcing the inherent limitations of the available models when applied to realities different from those for which they were originally developed. Therefore, they should be interpreted as extreme envelopes of behavior intended to support the planning of strategies aimed at mitigating environmental impacts.Implications: The results presented in this study contribute significantly to the improvement of environmental management strategies in urban solid waste management complexes. The estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions allows the identification of critical points of methane and carbon dioxide release, supporting the adoption of more efficient control and mitigation technologies. In addition, the data obtained can be used by public managers and policymakers to develop action plans aimed at reducing emissions in the waste sector, aligning with the climate commitments assumed by Brazil under the Paris Agreement and promoting the transition to more sustainable circular economy practices.
Amancio et al. (Thu,) studied this question.