St. FX Study to Measure Methane at Nova Scotia Landfills

Researchers at St. Francis Xavier University will measure methane emissions at Nova Scotia’s largest landfills and study whether more of the gas can be captured.

The province is providing $242,060 for the project through the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund.

Turning landfill gas into useful energy

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas produced as organic waste breaks down. The St. FX research team will measure emissions at landfills across the province, identify possible capture opportunities and examine recovery systems already used elsewhere in Canada and around the world.

The results are intended to give municipalities better information when they consider projects that reduce emissions or use captured methane to generate renewable energy.

Nova Scotia has legislated targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions to at least 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund supports work by municipalities, non-profit groups, universities and Mi’kmaw communities. Since its launch, the program has announced about $15.6 million for climate adaptation and emissions-reduction projects.

The landfill study will be led by researchers connected with St. FX’s climate science work in Antigonish.

Read the provincial news release.