Gas, it’s only natural

Waste Management Inc. and Linde North America have teamed up to create the world’s largest landfill gas (LFG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, according to WM, North America’s largest waste-services company.

The plant, built and operated by Linde near the Altamont Landfill on the outskirts of Livermore, purifies and liquefies landfill gas that WM collects from organic waste material. The facility is capable of producing up to 13,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas per day—enough to fuel the majority of WM’s LNG-collection vehicles in 20 California communities.

LNG derived from landfill gas is an ultra-low-carbon fuel. According to Pat Murphy, president of Linde North America, the facility is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30,000 tons a year.