California Air Resources Board

Pursuant to the Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Regulation (Landfill Methane Regulation, or LMR), regulated California landfill owners or operators must report detailed information to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) or air districts annually. CARB entered into memoranda of understanding (MOU) with some air districts that allow the districts to implement and enforce the LMR.

The following information is required for timely submittal of annual LMR reports. 

Annual LMR Reports

Per the LMR, regulated California landfill owners or operators must provide the required annual report by March 15 (or the following business day) with data for the prior calendar year.  

Depending on the landfill’s regulatory status, the information required in the landfill annual report is one of the following:

• Annual Report for landfills with a gas collection and control system (GCCS), as specified in Section 95470(b)(3) or
• Waste-in-Place Report as specified in Section 95470(b)(4) or
• Heat Input Capacity Report as specified in Section 95470(b)(5). 

Landfills Not in MOU Districts 

Landfills not located in districts that have entered into an MOU with CARB must submit the required information directly to CARB. Reports must be submitted by March 15 (or the first business day thereafter), and may be submitted electronically. Contact LMR staff prior to the deadline if reports are too large to email, or with any questions.   

Landfills in MOU Districts 

Landfills located in districts that have entered into an MOU with CARB must submit the required information to their air district by March 15 (or the first business day thereafter). CARB staff also requests that landfills submit a copy of this report to CARB LMR staff by May 31 with data for the prior calendar year.

MOU District Reports

Per the MOUs, each MOU air district must submit an annual MOU District report to CARB summarizing their enforcement and implementation efforts. CARB staff requests that air districts submit these reports to LMR staff by May 31 with data for the prior calendar year.

Reporting Tools

Voluntary reporting tools are provided to simplify compliance and to assist landfill owner or operators to ensure accurate and complete information is submitted annually to CARB.

• LMR Report Templates and User Guide
• Landfill Gas Tool

U.S. EPA Emission Guidelines

Pursuant to the California State Plan for Compliance with U.S. EPA Landfill Emission Guidelines CARB submits annual LMR reports to U.S. EPA to satisfy the State’s obligations under the U.S. EPA’s Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (Emission Guidelines). As described in the California State Plan, the reporting requirements under the LMR are similar to the requirements in U.S. EPA’s Emissions Guidelines.

In May 2021, U.S. EPA finalized a Federal Plan to implement the Emission Guidelines for existing municipal solid waste landfills, which includes specific reporting requirements in addition to those required by CARB under the LMR. CARB’s Annual Report template includes fields to submit additional information required pursuant to the Federal Plan to implement the U.S. EPA Emission Guidelines. If this information is not reported to CARB, landfill owners or operators are required to provide that information to U.S. EPA in order to comply with the federal requirements. Entities are solely responsible for compliance with U.S. EPA Emission Guidelines, the Federal Plan, and any other applicable requirements.