The Reserve’s Landfill Protocol provides guidance to account for, report, and verify greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions associated with installing a landfill gas collection and destruction system at landfill operations. This update is primarily a restructuring of the existing jurisdiction-specific Landfill Protocols into the new modular format and the addition of an option for eligible landfill gas-to-energy projects to receive credit for emissions reductions associated with the displacement of fossil fuels.

The Landfill Protocol provides guidance for landfill projects applicable globally, while jurisdiction modules provide additional eligibility rules specific to individual countries, such as the performance standard test and legal requirement test. The Argentina Module and Chile Module are also available for public comment.

In landfills, the decomposition of organic material under anaerobic (oxygen-limited) conditions produces landfill gas. Landfill gas is composed primarily of methane and carbon dioxide in approximately equal concentrations, along with a small amount of non-methane organic compounds. If not collected and destroyed, landfill gas is released into the atmosphere over time.

According to the IEA, waste is estimated to account for 17 percent of global methane emissions, or about 61 million metric tonnes of methane annually. Methane is a potent GHG, with a global warming potential 28 times that of CO₂ over a 100-year timeframe. Carbon crediting can help drive immediate and significant reductions of these GHGs.

Public comment

📥 Submit public comments on the Landfill Protocol, Argentina Module, and Chile Module by October 23, 2026 to policy@climateactionreserve.org.

🗓️ Join our public comment webinar on October 14, 2026.

➡️ More on the modular Landfill Protocol

Modular protocol structure

Under the Reserve’s modular protocol structure, each project type is governed by a protocol that establishes fundamental requirements applicable globally. Location-specific considerations, such as regulatory alignment and performance standard test, are covered in jurisdiction modules for the protocol.

This structure enables more efficient expansion of the Reserve’s high-quality carbon crediting program into new jurisdictions while maintaining rigorous, locally-informed standards.

Effective immediately, stakeholders can propose the development of additional jurisdiction modules for this protocol via our New Jurisdiction Module form. Project developers can also submit projects under protocols anywhere in the world, including in jurisdictions where a jurisdiction module has not yet been developed. This early submittal allows project developers to establish a submittal date, signal interest in the development of the jurisdiction module, and, once the jurisdiction module is approved, proceed immediately to request listing and registration.

➡️ More on our modular protocol structure