Lesson Plan: Landfills and Climate Change

Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.

Step 1: Topic introduction and discussion

1. Play the video, ‘A video about landfills’ by Meggie Stewart, Emory University, to introduce your students to the topic of landfills.
2. Use the video to acquaint them with the basics of what municipal solid waste is, how it ends up in landfills, and what happens to it over time as it decomposes.
3. Further, explain why methane is produced and emitted from landfills.

Go to the Video

Step 2: Discuss the topic of landfills in detail

1. Use the reading, ‘Basic Information about Landfills’ by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss landfills and their different types in detail.
2. Use the embedded links in text to discuss how landfills are classified according to the waste stored in them.
3. Distinguish between Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, non-hazardous Industrial Waste Landfills, and Hazardous Waste Landfills.
4. Elaborate upon Bioreactor Landfills that store organic matter and discuss the formation of leachate and landfill gases (LFGs) in them.
5. Explain that landfill gases mainly comprise of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide and that their emission from landfill sites can contribute significantly to climate change.

Go to the Reading

Step 3: Extend the understanding about landfill gases

1. Use the reading, ‘Basic Information about Landfill Gas’ by the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP)- EPA, to discuss the typical composition of landfill gases.
2. Use the text and the embedded ‘diagram that illustrates the changes in typical LFG composition after waste placement’ to explain the formation of LFGs due to bacterial decomposition of organic matter in the landfills.
3. Elaborate on how methane is produced from landfills and why its release to the atmosphere can adversely affect climate.
4. Explain why methane is the more potent greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide.
5. Use the text to explain how landfill gases can be used productively, thereby limiting greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and to mitigate their effect on the climate.

Go to the Reading

Step 4 : Interactive Visualization to explore the local context

1. Use the interactive visualization, ‘Methane emissions by sector’ by Our World in Data, to discuss total and relative methane emissions for different countries and regions, from various sectors such as Agriculture, Land Use, and Waste.
2. Use the bottom left tabs on the chart, to select for a country or region to visualize its sector-wise breakdown of methane emissions.
3. The data for the displayed chart is also available to download as a CSV file.
4. Use this visualization and/or data to comment on your country or region’s contribution to methane emissions from the Waste sector and therefore, its potential effect on climate change.

Go to the Visualization

Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation :

1. What is municipal solid waste and what is it composed of? Classify the different categories of municipal waste.
2. Explain what landfills are and list the pollutant gases that are produced in a landfill.
3. Describe how landfills can potentially contribute towards climate change.
4. How much does your country’s waste contribute to methane gas emissions?
5. Discuss how landfill gases can be processed to mitigate climate change.

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

1. learn about solid waste management and landfills
2. describe the different types of landfills and how they affect the environment
3. discuss landfills gases and their greenhouse warming potentials
4. explain how landfills contribute towards climate change

If you or your students would like to explore the topic further, these additional resources will be useful.