Waste Management has opened a landfill-gas-to-energy facility at its Superior Landfill and Recycling Center in Georgia, which uses methane gas to power up to 3,400 homes in the surrounding area. The facility is among the largest of its kind in Georgia and the Southeast, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data.

Methane gas — created from the natural decomposition of waste — is taken from the landfill through a series of wells placed around the site. From there, gas is used to power eight large engines to generate electricity, creating approximately 6.4 megawatts of power.



“The opening of this facility represents a new source of clean, renewable energy for our community,” said Robby White, district manager for Waste Management in Savannah. “It is an environmentally responsible way to harness the energy from the waste we all generate.”



Georgia Power and Waste Management Renewable Energy LLC entered into a 10-year deal for electricity, which was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission in April. Georgia Power selected Waste Management from a number of independent renewable generators that submitted bids through the company’s green request for proposals issued in April 2009.



To get an inside look at another Waste Management project in New Hampshire, which powers the University of New Hampshire, watch the video below.