A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, has identified substantial methane leaks at several Turkish landfills. Utilizing satellite imagery from Carbon Mapper, the analysis pinpointed ten waste management facilities with the highest emission levels between early 2025 and mid-2026. The Silivri landfill near Istanbul recorded the highest output, releasing an average of 7.4 metric tons of methane hourly, while the Şile district facility emitted approximately 4 metric tons per hour. These findings emerge as Turkey prepares to host an upcoming United Nations climate summit, during which the nation has advocated for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Methane is primarily generated through the decomposition of organic materials within these large-scale waste sites. The report highlights a discrepancy between the country's international climate commitments and the environmental reality observed at its primary landfill locations.
Source : Turkish Minute
