[nudephil (OP)]

The latest question of the week comes from listener Robert:

Does household composting release fewer greenhouse gases compared to a landfill?

[RD]

Transporting the waste to the landfill site in a diesel-powered truck will add more CO2.

[Bored chemist]

In a well built landfill site the methane produced by decay can be trapped and used to produce energy.
Even if it's not a lot of energy, it's a vast improvement on venting methane to the atmosphere because methane is a potent greenhouse gas.

[RD]

Even when the garbage trucks are powered by landfill methane,
 there is still the carbon-footprint of making the trucks to consider.

[Bored chemist]

Even when the garbage trucks are powered by landfill methane,
 there is still the carbon-footprint of making the trucks to consider.

And there is the carbon footprint of not transporting it to somewhere for proper disposal to also consider.
If you just dump it in the back yard (assuming you have one) it's a methane generator.

[charles1948]

The above replies contain the word "trucks".

This word denotes artificial mechanical vehicles. Powered by combustion of unnatural petroleum or diesel fuels.  Such combustion is bound to result in unnatural gas-emission from the metallic exhaust-pipes of the trucks.

But suppose these artificial, metallic "trucks" were replaced by more natural vehicles. Such as wholly wood-based carts, drawn by natural animals. Like horses or oxen.

What is the objection to using them?

[Bored chemist]

What is the objection to using them?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_horse_manure_crisis_of_1894

[charles1948]

What is the objection to using them?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_horse_manure_crisis_of_1894

As you rightly point out, horses have a tendency to deposit their droppings in the street. As the Victorians found out.

But would it not be possible to genetically engineer a horse that didn't do that?  Suppose we could create a new breed of horse that only excreted in its stable, not during its outside excursions.

Is there any reason why that couldn't be done.  With some suitable tinkering with the horse's genes.  Do you see any problem?

[Bored chemist]

Suppose we could create a new breed of horse that only excreted in its stable, not during its outside excursions.

Why do you think that would help?
In particular, why do you think it would be different from the much simpler option of putting a nappy on the horse -with a side order of "don't you think the Victorians thought of that?".
All you have done is moved the problem to the suburbs where the people live...

[nudephil (OP)]

We answered this question on the Question of the Week podcast:

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/question-week/compost-or-landfill-which-emits-more

Thanks for everyone's contributions, and an interesting discussion around transport emissions.