Methane (CH_4) and carbon dioxide (CO_2) emitted from municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment are major greenhouse gases listed in the Kyoto Protocol, significantly impact global climate change, and are important to consider in the formulation of policy for emission mitigation. The per capita amount of MSW (excluding data of Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan) collected and transported in China was 0. 46 t/a in 2011. This represents an increase of 53. 3% compared with 2000. Emissions from MSW treatment have become an important environmental problem in China. Analysis of the amounts of MSW collected and transported from 1979 to 2011, as well as the treatment measures including landfills and incineration, showed that landfilling is still the main process measure for MSW in China. The percentages of incineration and composting are relatively small. However, the incineration amount has increased yearly, with the amount of incineration in 2011 16. 8 times that of 2001. The IPCC methodology was used for calculating CH_4 and CO_2 emissions from 1979 to 2011. The results showed that emissions of CH_4 and CO_2 in 2011 were 7024. 03 * 10~4 t CO_2-eq and 706. 22 * 10~4 t,respectively. Emissions of CH_4 in 2011 were 20. 0 times that of 1990, while emissions of CO_2 in 2011 were 16.8 times that of 2001. Regional CH_4 and CO_2 emissions results showed that the geographical character of emissions had close relationship with urbanization and economic development. The maximum emissions in East China reached 2570. 98 * 10~4 t CO_2-eq, while the minimum emissions located in the Northeast were 482. 3 * 10~4 t CO_2-eq.