How can I tell if the town's yard waste program actually reduces methane?

[Michael_H]

I’m trying to figure out if my town’s new policy of collecting yard waste separately is actually making a difference. They say it’s all getting composted locally, but I’m not sure how to tell if it’s really reducing landfill methane or if it’s just getting hauled somewhere else with extra truck emissions.

[Lily.M]

I tracked my curbside yard waste bin for six months and asked the town for the official diversion rate. They say it goes to a local composting facility, but I can't tell if landfill methane is really going down or if trucks are just moving the problem somewhere else. How would I even verify that methane is down?

[RyanAP]

I rode with the yard waste crew once and saw what looked like a second truck on our route. The morning air seemed smokier than before and it felt like more emissions while they worked that day.

[Tyler61]

A neighbor swears the community compost pile behind the park smells earthier now and the pile looks more active. I wanted to believe that means local processing, but I’m not sure that’s solid evidence.

[JerryWG]

I tried a quick rough calc comparing extra fuel use from local hauling to a rough landfill methane factor, and the math felt flimsy. It almost makes me want to skip the guesswork and just look for a clear report from the city.