The Southeastern Chester County Refuse Authority has teamed up with the French company Waga Energy to convert degraded landfill waste into renewable natural gas, writes Zoë Read for the WHYY.
The aim is to reduce methane emissions while also being able to heat over 4,000 homes.
The West Grove authority serves around 105,000 Chester County residents who generate between 450 and 500 tons of trash per day.
“No one wants a landfill in their backyard,” said SECCRA general manager Scott Mengle. “So, we do what we can to make sure that we fit in as easily as possible and also do some good things for the environment.”
SECRA already generates electricity for approximately 1,400 homes by capturing methane from decomposing landfill waste. However, the aging system relies on fossil fuels and still emits greenhouse gases.
In contrast, Waga Energy’s technology eliminates the combustion process and fossil fuels, significantly cutting harmful emissions. It vacuums methane out of landfills, cleans it, then transports it to the gas grid through a pipeline.
Waga Energy and SECCRA are hoping to collaborate with PECO, which owns a pipeline running alongside the landfill.
Read more about the partnership to create renewable natural gas in the WHYY.
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