Autumn Hills is a modern landfill that uses a state-of-the-art landfill gas collection system. WM has invested millions of dollars in Autumn Hills and the local economy to capture the methane gas and harness its potential as a green energy source. Today, the green energy produced at Autumn Hills is the equivalent of powering more than 4,000 homes, and as a clean source of renewable energy, is the equivalent of removing 21,000 cars from the road, or planting 28,800 acres of trees annually. Statewide, the green energy generated at WM’s landfills could power more than 70,000 homes.
In 2005, Autumn Hills began piping landfill gas to North American Natural Resources (NANR). NANR scrubs the landfill gas and compresses it before sending it through six (6) miles of 18 inch pipe to Zeeland Farms Services (ZFS). ZFS uses the gas to power their soy bean processing plant. http://www.nanr.net/index/#/test/
In 2009, as landfill gas volume grew, NANR began generating renewable electricity for the City of Zeeland. The landfill gas being provided to NANR is anticipated to provide enough electricity to supply the city of Zeeland with 10% of its needs over the next 20 years. http://www.nanr.net/index/#/autumn-hills-east/
In 2008, WM partnered with Linde North America in California to create the world’s largest facility to convert landfill gas into clean vehicle fuel, liquefied natural gas. In the future, it’s possible this technology will be used at more and more landfills to create clean fuel and reduce dependence on oil.