Assess the gas already being generated.
Landfill gas can be recovered and treated for useful energy or upgraded gas. The opportunity depends on collection performance, gas quality, remaining supply and a customer-delivery route. Existing flare or generation equipment does not prove that a constant surplus is available. [[ US Environmental Protection Agency, Renewable Natural Gas ](https://www.epa.gov/lmop/renewable-natural-gas)] Use the landfill’s collection history, contaminant testing and expected production decline to assess a realistic customer supply period.
Measure the recoverable stream
Begin with operating records for collected flow, methane content, variability and current use. Check whether the records describe actual captured gas or a modelled generation estimate. Assess the remaining supply profile over the project’s proposed life rather than extending a short measurement period indefinitely.
Allow for treatment requirements
Landfill-derived gas can contain moisture and contaminants that require treatment. Air ingress can also affect gas quality. Upgrading equipment must be specified against the measured stream and intended customer or network requirements; copying a wastewater installation is not a complete design. [[ US Environmental Protection Agency, Renewable Natural Gas ](https://www.epa.gov/lmop/renewable-natural-gas)]
Compare with the current use
If the site generates electricity, include the value of electricity and any useful heat displaced by a new route. If it flares collected gas, assess why: intermittent supply, safety requirements, equipment constraints or commercial conditions may affect the next option. Flaring does not make recovery equipment cost-free.
Keep CO₂ recovery conditional
A CO₂-rich stream from upgrading may justify a separate recovery assessment. Contaminants, purification requirements and local buyers determine the outcome. Do not assume a landfill-based stream will satisfy beverage or food specifications because its carbon has a biological origin.
Build a site-specific evidence pack
Useful inputs include collection-system details, composition tests, annual and daily flow records, current contracts, future waste-management plans and delivery options. Use these to compare continued electricity generation, local thermal use and upgrading on an equivalent service and cost basis.
Frequently asked questions
Is landfill gas the same as biogas from an AD plant?
Both can contain methane and CO₂, but their composition, collection and contaminant profiles differ.
Can every landfill flare be replaced by biomethane production?
No. Reliable recoverable flow, treatment needs, permissions and delivery economics must be established.
Can landfill gas produce saleable CO₂?
It may, subject to stream quality, purification, customer acceptance and economics; it is not automatic.
Sources & References
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Renewable Natural Gas
Publication: 2018-12-06
Observation period: Technology and delivery guidance; historical chart through 2023 not reused as a current census
Relevant page / section: Claim-level locator not yet verified
Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11
Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.
High for process context; US descriptions do not replace Australian specifications
- Shelby Bioenergy, Shelby’s National Renewable Gas Policy consultation response
Publication: 2026-10
Observation period: October 2026
Relevant page / section: Supplied company position
Last link / title verification: Not verified
Company position / supplied material, not independent evidence.
Proposals and scenarios, not adopted policy or market offers.