Are Emissions from Landfills Usable?
The answer is yes, if communities close to landfills can capture these emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, current technology exists for using these emissions to produce electricity and direct use of gas.
Of the operations in use in the U.S., most are supplementing electricity needs for close-by industries. Fewer operations are using this gas directly because of lack of infrastructure. Recently, researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia, have developed a way to use methane from landfills and convert the gas into sustainable aviation fuel. If their technique can be used at scale, it would substantially help reduce overall emissions because it would reduce the need for new production of aviation fuel.
These are examples of turning a “waste” product into a useful product.
Earth Steward Action: Challenge yourself by turning an item from “trash” to “treasure.”
Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430131902.htm