ECONOMY

Recommendations

Info

WASTE MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2014 54HARNESSING ENERGY AT THE LANDFILLMaterials that cannot be recycled, reused or converted to other uses will end up ina landfill, but they can still add value back into the supply chain. Conversion of landfillgas into energy enables these materials to be part of the circular economy.Waste decomposing in landfills naturallyproduces methane, which is themajor component in natural gas fueland also a potent greenhouse gas. Atour landfill-gas-to-energy (LFGTE)facilities, we capture this methane anduse it as an alternative energy source,reducing methane emissions andhelping to offset the impacts of energyproduction from the fossil fuels thatmight otherwise be used. As the largestLFGTE developer and operator in NorthAmerica, we harness this energy topower homes, provide fuel for industrialuses and even fuel vehicles.USING LANDFILL GAS TOPRODUCE ELECTRICITYMost of our LFGTE facilities convertlandfill gas into electricity. In 2012and 2013, we had 137 LFGTE projects,providing the equivalent of over4.6 million megawatt-hours of electricity— enough to power more than 472,000homes each year. This electricity generationreplaces the need for burning2.5 million tons of coal each year. 31WASTE MANAGEMENT LFGTEELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, 2007-2013 32Number ofprojects2007 2011 2012 2013108 131 137 137Megawatthours3.60M 4.51M 4.67M 4.63M33soldNumber ofhouseholdsthis couldpower 34 383K 466K 470K 472KCoal use thiscould avoid(tons)1.87M 2.35M 2.52M 2.50MWASTE MANAGEMENT WINS AWARDFOR LANDFILL GAS CONVERSIONIn February 2014, our Saint NicéphoreLFGTE facility in Quebec, Canada, receiveda Sustainable Action Award from the QuebecAssociation for Energy Advancement,which recognizes excellence in energy efficiencyprojects. The Saint Nicéphore projectboth produces electricity from landfill gasfor Hydro-Quebec, a local utility, and usesresidual heat created during power generationto maintain the temperature at localgreenhouses. The process works in this way:We extract naturally occurring gas from thelandfill, convert it into a fuel for our powergenerators, and send the water used to coolthe generators to greenhouses operated bya neighboring business. The heated water iscirculated to ensure an ideal ambient temperaturefor the production of tomatoes,even during the harsh Canadian winters.The process also substantially reduces theconsumption of diesel fuel normally used toheat the greenhouses, avoiding use of morethan 500,000 gallons of diesel annually.
WASTE MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2014 55HARNESSING ENERGY AT THE LANDFILLLANDFILL-GAS-TO-ENERGY PRODUCTION1The cycle begins with the collectionof residential and commercial waste.Recyclables are separated, and theremaining waste is then transportedto Waste Management landfills forpermanent disposal.2Much of this waste, including food, paperand cardboard that are not otherwisediverted, is organic in nature. Bacteria digestthis organic waste and produce methane gasand carbon dioxide as natural byproducts.5The gas is piped to an electricitygenerating plant, on-site or off-site,where it is used as fuel to turn enginesor turbines to generate electricity.Landfill gas may also be piped off-siteto industrial customers for use as analternative fuel source.4At the compression facility, thelandfill gas is de-watered, filteredand pressurized.3The methane gas is recovered via a series ofwells drilled into the landfill. These wells areconnected by a common pipe system thatcollects the gas and transports it to a nearbycompression facility.
Page 1 and 2:
CREATING ACIRCULARECONOMYSUSTAINABI
Page 3 and 4: WASTE MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY REP
Page 17 and 18: REDUCINGWASTEWASTE MANAGEMENT SUSTA
Page 53: WASTE MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY REP
Page 69 and 70: GRAPHIC CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGEW
Page 75 and 76: CREATING AGOOD PLACETO WORKWASTE MA
Page 87 and 88: ENGAGING WITHCOMMUNITIESWASTE MANAG
Page 101: WASTE MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY REP
show all

ECONOMY

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?