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Toyota Makes Garbage Good with Landfill Gas Power

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Landfill Gas

Landfill gas to be used in vehicle production.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure—or in the case of one Toyota assembly plant, it’s power. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. and the Waste Services of the Bluegrass have come together to generate power for the manufacturing plant from a slightly stinky source—the local landfill.

Known for making some of the greenest cars on the market and for utilizing green practices in manufacturing, the plant estimates that the landfill gas will provide enough power to assist in the production of 10,000 vehicles each year. In order to power the plant, the landfill gas, which is a result of solid waste breaking down naturally, will be collected and prepared by a network of wells at the landfill and then used to fuel generators for electricity, carrying it to the Toyota plant.

Construction for the system will begin in April and is expected to be completed in early 2015. It’s expected to generate one megawatt of electricity per hour, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill by as much as 90%.

While using landfill gas to run the plant might seem like a bit of a smelly alternative for power, it could be a great way to make the world a bit cleaner. Do you agree? Share your thoughts below!