Alabama: Nation’s first manufacturer to locate adjacent to a landfill to use landfill gas (LFG) as fuel.

Challenge:
Due to high product demand, Jenkins Brick decided to expand its output and proceed with a core expansion strategy which included evaluating and selecting a site based on having access to landfill gas as a potential energy source (LFG).

Veolia’s Solution:
Based on a detailed economic and engineering assessment, Veolia proposed to supply landfill gas from its VeoliaES Star Ridge landfill to the Jenkins Brick facility in Moody, Alabama for use as a fuel in their brick kilns. The Star Ridge Landfill now delivers filtered LFG to a gas compression skid installed and operated by Jenkins Brick at the landfill. The dewatered and compressed gas is conveyed via a 5.7 mile pipeline to the Jenkin’s facility. Landfill gas, which contains about 50% methane, occurs naturally in solid waste landfills as the waste decomposes. Landfill gas can be used in almost any way that other fuels are utilized. Jenkins Brick is the first U.S. manufacturer to build adjacent to a landfill in order to use landfill gas as a fuel source. Landfill gas will initially provide about 45% of Jenkins Brick’s energy demands, and will eventually provide 80% – 90% of their energy needs as the landfill gas yield increases over time.

Benefits:
Landfill gas emissions that would normally be flared are now being utilized to displace the use of non-renewable fossil fuels. Jenkins Brick will realize significant annual savings by using landfill methane rather than natural gas as the key energy component of their manufacturing processes. This gas utilization project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to nearly 8,200 tons of carbon dioxide each year – as much as planting 19,500 acres of trees or preventing the consumption of 166,500 barrels of oil per year. As a result of this renewable energy project, Jenkins Brick, the surrounding community and the global environment will all benefit from the reduced carbon footprint associated with this partnership between Veolia and Jenkins Brick. The collection and use of landfill gas is an effective method to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are responsible for global warming and will help the U.S. meet GHG reduction goals being sought by the international community.

Find more solutions at www.veoliaes.com.