Waste Management Inc said on Monday it would open the largest-ever facility
to turn landfill gas into vehicle fuel, which will then be used in its own
California collection trucks.
The project will help the largest US trash hauler develop a source of low-carbon
fuel, which is expected to be in wide demand when states such as California
begin requiring drivers to cut their carbon dioxide emissions.
"We think there's going to be a very significant demand for the fuel," said
Waste Management spokesman Kent Stoddard.
The initiative will also allow Waste Management, which already operates the
largest US fleet of heavy-duty collection trucks that operate on natural gas, to
reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
"It couldn't come at a better time since oil and gas prices are going through
the roof," said Waste Management spokesman Wes Muir.
Waste Management has partnered with the North American unit of engineering
company Linde Group to build a liquefied natural gas facility near Livermore,
California. The facility will produce clean fuel from the gas produced from
decomposing organic garbage. The fuel will then be used to power about 300 Waste
Management collection trucks.
The facility is expected to begin operating in 2009.
The plan will cost about $15.5 million, with $1.4 million reaped from grants and
the remainder split between Waste Management and Linde, Muir said, adding that
Linde will operate the facility.
Muir declined to specify the companies' expectations for the impact on profits,
saying only that "it's going to save us some money, but primarily it's going to
reduce emissions."
The gas produced by the Altamont facility will be the cleanest burning fuel
available for the company's collection trucks, he said.
California has adopted a landmark law to reduce carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and it's expected that other
states will follow.
There are two other facilities that can make natural gas from waste, one in
Orange County, California, and one in London. But their output falls short of
the 13,000 gallons of fuel the Altamont Landfill is expected to produce
annually, according to Muir.
The liquid natural gas project will help Waste Management meet its goals to cut
total fleet emissions by at least 15 percent.
Muir said the initiative will allow the company to slash its emissions by 30,000
tons annually.
"It's a great use for our landfill gas," he said.