New Jersey is making good use of its trash
Articles — By forcechange on October 27, 2008 9:12 am
New Jersey, where the average resident produces 6.7 pounds of trash per day (50% higher than the national average) has found a good use for all that waste– landfill methane energy generation. [Link will expire.]
Currently, the state has 21 landfills that are used to produce electricity. This process entails drilling long tubes deep into the heart of the landfill to collect methane gas. The gas is created when little bacteria feast on the organic matter thrown into the dump. The methane is then burned to generate electricity. Methane, and thus, power, can be produced at landfills for dozens of years even after the last deposit of fresh waste.
New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan aims to use alternative sources to generate 30% of the state’s power by 2020. Landfill methane gas is one of the keys to achieving this goal.
Throughout the country, there are currently 455 landfills that are tapping their methane for energy generation, and an additional 535 that are identified by the EPA as potential methane energy generators.
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