Landfill Gas Emissions to Power Interface Flooring Systems Plant
How is Interface using the landfill gas? Landfill gas(LFG) is generated when organic materials in the landfill decompose, and is approximately 50 percent methane and 50 percent carbon dioxide. When methane escapes into the atmosphere, not only does it contribute to global warming, it creates odors, contributes to local smog, and creates a safety hazard. The City of LaGrange Landfill has been modified with a system to collect the gas and deliver it through a pipeline to Interface's Kyle plant. The LFG is being burned and converted to heat, just like conventional natural gas. The City of LaGrange retrofitted the landfill for gas collection, and the pipeline was added incrementally to an existing city project to upgrade natural gas pipelines. Interface is using the LFG as a renewable energy source for several different manufacturing processes.Who initiated the project and when was it started? Interface approached the City of LaGrange in 2001 with the idea of capturing the LFG and using it for on-site energy.
How does use of LFG fit with Interface's vision? This project has multiple benefits. Use of LFG moves us a significant step closer towards our goal of becoming a restorative company. We are removing greenhouse gases from the air, eliminating harmful emissions, increasing use of renewable energy, and contributing to the development of bio-based energy. Interface won the U.S. EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) Energy Partner of the Year Award. Interface is a member of Green Power Market Development Group, a project of the World Resources Institute, a global facilitator of green power, and the LMOP as well as the EPA’s Green Power Partnership and the Green Power Market Development Group a project of the World Resources Institute, a global facilitator of green power, and the U.S. EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program.
What is the environmental benefit of using LFG? Direct use of LFG helps fight global climate change by eliminating emissions of methane. Landfills are the single largest man-made source of methane. By collecting the LFG and using it to fuel equipment at our facility, we are tapping into a locally generated, reliable, renewable energy source. LFG is one of the few sources of renewable energy which is available 24-hours per day, 7-days a week, and LFG is the only renewable energy that, when used, actually removes pollution from the atmosphere.
Will use of LFG affect the quality of your carpet? Will there be an odor? No. LFG is used only to deliver indirect heat to a process and is never in direct contact with products or people.
What is the benefit to the community from using LFG? Uncontrolled emissions of LFG are odorous and contribute to local smog and air quality problems. The surrounding community and the global environment will benefit from cleaner air and a reduced need for fossil fuels. The LFG collection project, combined with other improvements being made at the landfill by the City of LaGrange, will bring an estimated $30 million in revenues to the city over the next 50 years while adding an extra 20 years to the life of the landfill.
Is the City of LaGrange required to capture the methane? No, the emissions from the landfill fall below the Tier 2 Non-Methane Organic Compound levels. Collection and combustion of the methane is not required by the U.S. EPA, therefore Interface is able to get credit for the environmental attributes of collecting and combusting the landfill gas.
Do you have future plans to expand use of landfill gas? We will continue to look for opportunities to increase our use of landfill gas in our facilities.
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