Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have identified 70 methane plumes over ten landfills in Turkey. They analyzed data from the Tanager-1 satellite from January 2025 to the end of May 2026. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Highest reading near Istanbul
Average emissions at these sites ranged from 841 kg to 7.4 tonnes per hour. The highest figure was recorded at the Seymen landfill west of Istanbul. It receives about 8,500 tonnes of household waste per day. Part of the methane released during waste decomposition is collected there and used to generate electricity.
According to Reuters, the satellite recorded one of the world's highest readings at a Turkish landfill near Istanbul — an average of 7.4 tonnes per hour during observations.
Operator's explanation
According to ISTAC operator representative Ayshen Erdinchler, emissions usually ranged from 4 to 6 tonnes per hour, while one measurement showed 12 tonnes. ISTAC head Fatih Ugur explained that on that day about 30 hectares of the landfill remained uncovered due to repairs of gas collection pipes. Turkey's Ministry of Environment noted that annual emissions cannot be calculated from individual measurements.
"Even working with the largest landfills offers huge potential for reducing emissions across the country," said Carbon Mapper specialist Tia Scarpelli.
Among possible measures, she named repairing gas collection systems and reducing the volume of organic waste entering landfills.
Global ranking
According to the Climate TRACE project, Turkey ranks fifth in the world for methane emissions from solid waste after China, the US, Russia and Brazil. The UN climate conference in Antalya will last until November 20.
Earlier, Kursiv reported on why Kazakhstan has few biogas power plants that can generate electricity from landfill gas.