As start-up on the world’s largest plant to convert landfill gas into clean vehicle fuel nears completion, joint venture partners Linde North America and Waste Management have begun to share details of the project. The companies are installing systems at WM’s Altamont Landfill near Livermore, CA that will purify and liquefy landfill gas, a renewable source of biomethane fuel. When the $15. 5 million plant begins operating later this year, it is designed to produce up to 13,000 gallons a day of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that could fuel hundreds of waste collection vehicles.

Bryan Luftglass, Manager of Anaerobic Digestion process partner Linde North America’s Energy Segment said, “Biomethane is a truly renewable and readily available green source of high quality fuel.”

Although it is still an emerging commodity, its economic and environmental value is rapidly being recognized.” Kent Stoddard, Vice President of Public Affairs for Waste Management’s West Group also commented saying, “Waste Management’s partnership with Linde will allow us to tap into a valuable source of clean energy while greatly reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

Natural gas is already the cleanest burning fuel available for our collection trucks and the opportunity to use recovered landfill gas offers enormous environmental benefits to the communities we serve.”

SOURCE: Waste Management, Inc.