Washington, DC – Today, Representative Brownley (CA-26) and Congressman George Whitesides (CA-27) announced new Congressional action urging the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to strengthen its methane reduction policies for landfills to protect public health and reduce climate-related costs for Californians. This action comes as CARB considers updates to its landfill methane regulations. The lawmakers emphasized that while the current draft is a step in the right direction, it does not go far enough to protect frontline communities or meet the scale of California’s climate commitments.
“As Members of Congress committed to addressing the climate crisis and protecting the health of Californians, we urge the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to strengthen its regulations on landfill methane emissions and prioritize the well-being of frontline communities,” wrote the lawmakers.
As organic waste decomposes in landfills, it generates methane, a climate super pollutant with roughly 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, and more than 60 percent of the methane produced by landfilled food waste escapes into the atmosphere as fugitive emissions.
“California has long led on environmental policy, but its landfill methane rules are outdated and allow significant fugitive emissions. The issue is not a lack of solutions, but a lack of action. Proven, effective measures already exist, and California can again lead by deploying them,” the lawmakers added.
“We encourage CARB to pursue comprehensive methane reduction standards that employ current detection and mitigation technologies. Requiring advanced monitoring tools such as satellite and remote-sensing systems would significantly cut emissions, improve public health, and reduce climate-related costs borne by Californians in the form of higher medical bills, lost workdays, and rising insurance premiums.”
In addition to the warming impacts, landfill gas contains hazardous air pollutants, precursors to ozone and particulate matter, odors, and other dangerous gases that degrade air quality, health, and quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods, many of which are already disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 70 percent of California’s highest-emitting landfills are located in communities where more than half of the residents are people of color, compounding longstanding environmental inequities.
In addition to Congresswoman Brownley and Congressman Whitesides, the letter was signed by five other members of the California Congressional Delegation, including Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Doris Matsui (CA-7), and Maxine Waters (CA-43).
The letter is endorsed by Full Circle Future.
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
November 19, 2025
Chair Lauren Sanchez
California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Chair Sanchez and Members of the Board,
As Members of Congress committed to addressing the climate crisis and protecting the health of Californians, we urge the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to strengthen its regulations on landfill methane emissions and prioritize the well-being of frontline communities. While CARB’s proposed rules are a step in the right direction, they can go further, particularly in landfill data transparency, reducing temperature thresholds, and adoption of the best available technology.
By implementing the nation’s most comprehensive methane standards, CARB can protect more than 30 million Californians living near landfills from harmful air pollution, reduce costly health impacts, and help slow the pace of global warming.
Poorly controlled landfills pose an immediate threat to communities and fuel costly climate change. As organic waste decomposes, it generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas driving extreme events such as wildfires, drought, and flooding. These disasters endanger lives, raise insurance costs, and destabilize local economies.
Landfill gas also contains hazardous pollutants and smog-forming compounds that worsen respiratory illness, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, especially among vulnerable populations and children. Alarmingly, 70% of California’s highest-emitting landfills are located in communities where over half of the residents are people of color, compounding longstanding environmental inequities.
California has long led on environmental policy, but its landfill methane rules are outdated and allow significant fugitive emissions. The issue is not a lack of solutions, but a lack of action. Proven, effective measures already exist, and California can again lead by deploying them.
We encourage CARB to pursue comprehensive methane reduction standards that employ current detection and mitigation technologies. Requiring advanced monitoring tools such as satellite and remote-sensing systems would significantly cut emissions, improve public health, and reduce climate-related costs borne by Californians in the form of higher medical bills, lost workdays, and rising insurance premiums.
Accelerated methane reduction is the fastest way to slow near-term warming and is essential to keeping the 1.5°C target within reach. Curbing landfill methane should be a cornerstone of California’s climate strategy, ensuring progress toward the Global Methane Pledge and California’s economy-wide emissions goals. To achieve these outcomes and protect Californians, we encourage CARB to consider strengthening its draft rule by:
- Requiring the use of advanced technologies for efficient monitoring and emissions reduction;
- Prioritizing community safety through fenceline monitoring and transparent data reporting; and
- Going beyond federal standards with proactive fire prevention measures, including lower temperature thresholds and faster regulatory responses.
Stronger methane rules will reaffirm California’s role as a national model for integrating climate action and public health. As federal policymakers, we have been working to address methane emissions at the national level and secured significant investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to fund financial and technical assistance to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. We were disappointed that the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ rescinded unobligated balances from the methane reduction program and delayed implementation of the methane emissions fee. While President Trump and Congressional Republicans are taking us backwards, continued state leadership is critical to demonstrating the feasibility and impact of ambitious climate action, delivering swift and comprehensive protections for communities living near landfills.
We applaud CARB’s progress and urge the Board to adopt the strongest possible landfill methane regulations. Doing so will safeguard public health, lower healthcare and insurance costs, and protect our most vulnerable communities, all while cementing California’s leadership in responsible climate action.
Thank you for your leadership and your full and fair consideration of our comments, consistent with applicable statutes and regulations.
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Issues: 119th Congress, Climate Crisis, Environmental Protection, Local Issues