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Waste sector

The waste sector reports on emissions from the disposal of solid waste, waste-water handling and incineration of waste. Greenhouse gas emissions from waste are predominantly methane, formed from decaying organic waste. Small amounts of nitrous oxide are also generated from incineration of solvents and decomposition of human waste. Carbon dioxide emissions from the breakdown of organic material are not reported because the carbon dioxide emitted is assumed to be reabsorbed by growth in vegetation and other organic matter in the following year. Figure 11 shows waste emissions by category.

Figure 11: Waste sector emissions: 2006

See figure at its full size (including text description).

Solid waste disposal on land represented 79 per cent (1.5 Mt CO2-e) of waste sector greenhouse gas emissions in 2006. This is a reduction of 31 per cent (0.6 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 2.1 Mt CO2-e.

Waste-water handling makes up 20 per cent (0.38 Mt CO2-e) of emissions from the waste sector in 2006. Emissions from waste water have increased 2 per cent (0.01 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 0.37 Mt CO2-e.

Waste incineration accounts for 0.3 per cent (0.005 Mt CO2-e) of emissions from the waste sector in 2006. This is a decrease of 65 per cent (0.009 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 0.015 Mt CO2-e.