At ET Design-Build, we are committed to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental challenges, innovations, and regulatory shifts. Recently, two of our team members attended the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) Summit on Landfill Emissions. This event was dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and policies surrounding landfill gas measurement and mitigation.

EREF advances scientific research and creates educational pathways that enable innovations in sustainability. The organization’s unbiased, peer-reviewed research makes critical information readily available to all. Its scholarship program fosters the next generation of researchers. These passionate individuals will continue to provide critical research and data well into the future. EREF is also expanding. It aims to become a data repository for everyone working toward viable, implementable solutions for a more circular economy. 

As a Research Council Member and Gold Sponsor of the event, ET Design-Build was proud to support EREF’s mission of driving research and education in the waste industry. The summit provided a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of landfill gas emissions. It explored where we are, where we’re headed, and the role that cutting-edge technology is playing in shaping the future.

The summit’s discussions were centered around three major themes:

The Summit explored the changing political climate and its impact on landfill emissions regulation. With the pace of executive orders increasing under the new administration and potential shifts in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staffing, many in the industry are preparing for adjustments in policy enforcement and funding for waste management initiatives.

One key concern is whether landfill gas regulations will become stricter, or if funding for environmental projects could be cut. While long-term impacts remain uncertain, the consensus is that technological advancements in emissions detection and modeling will play a critical role in helping the industry stay ahead, regardless of regulatory changes.

Landfill emissions monitoring has undergone a dramatic transformation. The industry is shifting away from manual, labor-intensive fieldwork and toward remote sensing solutions that provide more accurate data with greater efficiency.

The most notable innovations include:

• Satellite technology that can detect methane emissions from low earth orbit
• Airplane-mounted sensors for large-scale monitoring
• Drones equipped with high-resolution sensors to scan landfill sites
• Robot dogs fitted with methane detectors, providing safe and consistent on-the-ground measurements

These advancements allow landfill operators to detect, quantify, and address emissions faster than ever before. What once required weeks of data collection can now be accomplished in days, leading to improved accuracy and more proactive management strategies.

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is how to model landfill gas emissions effectively. While data collection is improving, the methodologies for analyzing that data remain in flux.

At the summit, experts debated multiple approaches including:

• Empirical Modeling – Gathering as much real-world data as possible and using it to refine predictive models
• Theoretical Modeling – Applying advanced computational fluid dynamics and dispersion models to simulate gas movement through landfill materials and overhead air-space

Despite progress, no industry-wide consensus has emerged on the most accurate modeling techniques. However, one thing is clear: as data collection continues to improve, so will the ability to create more precise predictive models.

With trusted partners that specialize in landfill gas emissions monitoring, ET plays a critical role in the renewable natural gas (RNG) sector—the next step in the waste-to-energy process.

Landfill gas collection and emissions data serve as the foundation for RNG project development. Once methane is captured, it can be processed and injected into the natural gas grid, reducing emissions while creating a valuable energy source.

ET Design-Build has been at the forefront of renewable natural gas infrastructure, designing and building systems that turn landfill emissions into clean energy. The insights gained at the EREF Summit reinforce our commitment to integrating the latest advancements in gas monitoring and modeling into our projects.

One key tool in our arsenal is FlowForma, a modeling software that helps optimize RNG plant development. It uses model inputs such as gas composition, LFG flow rates, and pressure/temperature of LFG, and provides the following beneficial outputs:

• Rapid technology recommendations
• High-level project financial analysis
• General process layout recommendations

By leveraging FlowForma, we can help landfill operators maximize their energy output while ensuring compliance with evolving emissions standards.

The waste industry is at a turning point. Advancements in remote sensing, predictive modeling, and RNG infrastructure are making it easier than ever to measure, capture, and repurpose landfill gas.

At ET Design-Build, we see these developments not just as technological shifts, but as opportunities to drive sustainable change. By staying engaged with organizations like EREF and embracing the latest innovations, we remain well-positioned to help our clients navigate the evolving landscape of waste-to-energy solutions.

To learn more about ET’s work, please explore our Services. 

Take a look at the flyer ET shared at the event, below!