We have plenty of garbage. But cheap sources of fuel are hard to come by. Two Indiana companies are putting all that trash to work. You'll see how trash is getting turned into eco-treasure on today's EnvironMinute. Decomposing garbage creates methane the main component of the natural gas we use in our homes.
Most landfills are full of it.
A new tax break for landfills that recycle methane instead of burning it off creates unique relationships between landfills and nearby companies. In Indiana, a three-mile pipeline was built linking a landfill with an asphalt plant. The project cost plenty upfront. But company officials bank on long-run savings from cheaper gas. By cutting energy costs the company can submit lower bids on projects and be more competitive.