• Granger Meadows, a former landfill, now a park

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Throughout the state, several landfills have been outfitted with equipment that captures gases released during the decomposition process. Some of this gas, when mixed with new gas, can be used for energy.

This development naturally leaves many institutions, such as Granger, excited about the possibility of harvesting energy from landfills. However, in order to produce sufficient quantities of useable gases like methane, natural waste such as leaves and lawn clippings must be added to the landfills at a rate that currently violates landfill laws. As such, several of these institutions are pursuing changes to legislation.

Not everyone in the energy harvesting community is enthusiastic about harvesting gas from landfills. Reasons cited include a.) natural waste can be more efficiently disposed of via more environmentally friendly ways, and b.) the methane and usable gases harvested from landfills are frequently acidic and acrid at levels that require it to be deluded with large amounts of gases from other sources.

"There are efficient ways of generating methane. I don't think landfills is one of them, but at the same time I do think its smart to capture that methane," said LeRoy Harvey, Meridian Township Energy and Recycling Coordinator.

Landfills anymore are already equipped with devices that manage gas release, so landfill companies already have a starting point for installing harvesting equipment.