A well-intentioned proposal by the state Department of Environmental Conservation will have unintended consequences for landfill operators and consumers.

Seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the agency is proposing to mandate methane gas collection systems at the state's 27 solid-waste landfills such as the one operated by the Development Authority of the North Country in the town of Rodman.

The mandate would require state-of-the-art systems to collect the gas and use it for energy recovery when applying for permits. The development authority is nearing completion of a gas-to-energy project that will use collected methane produced by decomposing waste to generate electricity at its Route 177 facility.

Similar systems may not be feasible at smaller landfills.

The DEC says the intent of the new rule is to increase materials recovery, reduce the impact of waste management and reduce greenhouse gas generation. But it will have financial repercussions on landfill operators.

With its collection system, the development authority is eligible for methane destruction carbon credits that can be sold to other landfills. Doing so generates about $1 million a year for the authority. In addition, the sale of electricity will bring in about $1 million a year, which translates into savings for consumers.

However, the DEC would eliminate the methane credits for systems voluntarily installed and thus a source of revenue for the development authority and other landfill operators who rely on it to defer costs. Without the credit, the $41-a-ton tipping fee paid by municipalities and private haulers could rise.

The credits have been a financial inducement for landfill operators to voluntarily install gas collection systems. As suggested by Robert S. Juravich, executive director of the development authority, there are other ways to address the problem. The DEC should reconsider its proposal.