Tell Bill Gates: Stop Profiting From Methane Pollution

A bombshell ProPublica investigation published on November 10th exposes how Bill Gates has made billions from a company whose landfills are leaking dangerous methane pollution — with federal inspectors finding concentrations up to 300 times legal limits. 

And with a critical climate deadline just weeks away, Gates faces a choice: use his enormous influence to stop the pollution or keep profiting from it.

Gates owns 38% of Republic Services, America's second-largest landfill operator, a stake worth approximately $29 billion. Since 2020, federal inspectors have documented more than 1,400 spots at Republic landfills where methane exceeded legal limits. Methane traps roughly 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over 20 years, making these leaks especially destructive.

Families living near landfills have reported headaches, nausea, burning eyes, and unbearable odors associated with landfill gases. Meanwhile, Gates has collected $2.6 billion in dividends from Republic Services. The pollution continues. The profits keep rolling in.

Tell Bill Gates: Stop putting landfill profits ahead of people's health and our climate. Use your influence to make Republic Services clean up its pollution.

According to ProPublica, a former Republic employee said the company estimated that meeting stronger climate targets could cost more than $1 billion. That's less than half the $2.6 billion Gates has personally collected in dividends. Republic has the resources to invest in pollution controls. Yet it has resisted stronger climate commitments while continuing to reward shareholders.

And the pollution may be far worse than Republic reports. At one landfill, independent researchers measured methane emissions 13 times higher than the company's reported figures.

Now the clock is ticking. Republic has until the end of 2026 to submit updated climate targets under the Science Based Targets initiative's rules. But the company hasn't committed to doing so. Without pressure now, Republic could miss the deadline while continuing to tout its climate credentials without adopting stronger pollution-reduction commitments.

Gates isn't a powerless bystander. He's Republic's largest shareholder, with close associates on its board. He has the influence to demand repairs, independent monitoring, and meaningful emissions reductions. The question is whether he'll use it before the deadline passes.

Add your name: Demand that Bill Gates use his enormous influence now to make Republic Services fix its methane leaks, publicly report its emissions, and commit to real pollution reductions.

The petition to Bill Gates reads:

“Use your influence as Republic Services' largest shareholder to demand immediate repairs of documented methane leaks, independent monitoring and public reporting of emissions, and stronger science-based pollution-reduction targets by the end of 2026. Put protecting our climate and communities ahead of shareholder profits.”