Opinion: Latinos in Colorado need the state to act on stricter methane rules for landfills

Living in Colorado, I know how important the environment is to our way of life. Early in my life, as a Latino, I spent much time outdoors; it is a part of my culture and upbringing. 

I cherish our state’s great climate as an avid fisher, hunter and outdoor enthusiast. Having lived here all my life, I am keenly aware of how fragile our environment is today.  

I know firsthand how climate change affects our communities. I have family members who suffer from asthma, and they are directly impacted by a change in air quality in Colorado. Sadly, without any action, this dynamic could get much worse. 

This problem is felt acutely by Latinos in Colorado. Research shows that Latinos are 51% more likely to live in a county that violates ground-level ozone standards. According to GreenLatinos, using data from the U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services: “These geographic factors, due to environmental racism, contribute to asthma having a disproportionate impact on Latino families. Preventing methane and ozone pollution is critical for Latinos because Latino children are twice as likely to die of asthma than white children.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, methane emissions from landfills are among the third-largest sources of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and contribute significantly to the heating of our planet. Latinos often work in jobs that require us to to work outside in extreme heat presenting a clear and present danger to our communities in Colorado. 

To help curb the effects of these harmful gases, we need stronger regulations and better emissions monitoring. To do this, we must require more gas-collection systems at landfills, more monitoring and accurate emissions reporting, and more composting, recycling, and reduction in the waste stream. 

The good news is Colorado has already taken several necessary steps toward addressing emissions from landfills.

Gov. Jared Polis’ administration has committed to advancing landfill rule updates in 2025, with a draft rule expected in February. In July, Colorado was awarded $329 million by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency via a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, with a significant amount earmarked to deploy advanced monitoring technology.

The Polis administration must continue to move forward by issuing draft landfill regulations that position Colorado as a national leader in methane reduction. 

We have to move forward soon; the urgency of this problem is high. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that causes about 25% of the global warming we are experiencing today. Methane increases the speed of global warming, and we must stop emissions in the short term.

Given the severity of the Latino community’s problem related to toxic methane gases, the Polis administration must take further action on landfill regulations. One simple step he could take would be to get more aggressive in monitoring methane emission levels at our landfills. By being the first in the nation to embrace the latest methane monitoring technologies, Colorado can exceed the bar set by Washington, Oregon, and California while pressuring the EPA to draft the most robust federal regulations. 

There are 47 landfills in Colorado, to curb methane in our state, the simplest thing to do would be to ensure all with 200,000 metric tons of waste in place have gas collection systems and reduce installation lag time to under one year. 

Another recommendation Colorado could consider is to promote organic waste diversion through waste prevention, composting and food recovery programs to reduce future methane generation from a landfill. This would create jobs, address food insecurity and produce valuable products like compost that sequester carbon and improve soil health.

Gov. Polis, you have done the hard work. Now, we need you to execute your plans. For those who want to add their voice to this fight, there is an upcoming meeting at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment where you can provide your public comment.

Latinos in Colorado are hit hard by environmental degradation related to greenhouse gas emissions. Landfill methane is among the worst pollutants in the world. We owe it to our community to ensure that we fight these pollutants.

Latinos cannot afford to let our climate further deteriorate, as we are directly impacted by the extreme weather events created by these gases.

Evaristo Gomez Jr., of Westminster, is the civic engagement manager at the nonprofit Mi Familia Vota.

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