WM discusses LFGTE, RNG projects in 2018 sustainability report

Waste Management recently released its 2018 sustainability report, highlighting its achievements in using landfill gas to generate electricity and produce renewable natural gas (RNG) for use as transportation fuel.

According to the report, WM is currently the largest landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) developer and operator in North America. The company’s projects generate the equivalent of nearly 4.5 million megawatt hours per year, enough to power approximately 460,000 homes. In 2017, the company said approximately 55 percent of landfill gas collected at WM-owned and WM-operated facilities was used for beneficial projects.

Within the report, WM notes that it had 119 LFGTE projects in place by the end of 2017 with a combined 648 MW of capacity. That includes 97 power projects with 528 MW of capacity, five off-site power projects with 56 MW of capacity, nine medium Btu fuel projects with 25 MW of capacity, four liquid waste disposal projects with 3 MW of capacity, and four RNG projects with 36 MW of capacity.  

According to WM, the company currently operates the largest fleet of heavy-duty natural gas trucks in North America. Nearly one-third of those vehicles run on 100 percent RNG generated from landfill gas.

The 2018 sustainability report also highlights several investments made by WM, including those made in Enerkem and Fulcrum Bioenergy.

A full copy of the 209-page sustainability report can be downloaded from Waste Management’s website.