Doing more, by using less.
In 2006, ZFS built a pipeline from a local landfill to our facility. Since then, the six-mile pipeline has been capturing methane gas that would have otherwise been burned into the air and wasted. ZFS uses renewable landfill gas to produce the majority of the heat and steam used to process soybeans and vegetable oil. We also use the landfill gas in reciprocating engine electric generators to produce electricity. The renewable electric environmental attributes of the electricity are transferred to third parties to support their green, renewable electric programs.
Initial use of the landfill gas provides environmental benefits equivalent to:
- Removing 21,000 cars off the road per year, or
- Planting 28,000 acres of trees per year, or
- Not consuming 480 railcars of coal per year, or
- Not consuming 228,000 barrels of oil per year, or
- Providing more than 2,100 homes with electricity per year
The gas flows are expected to progressively increase until 2027. As they peak, the greenhouse gas reductions will be equivalent to:
- Removing 98,000 cars from the roads per year, or
- Planting 133,000 acres of trees per year, or
- Not consuming 2,205 railcars of coal per year, or
- Not consuming 900,000 barrels of oil per year, or
- Providing more than 8,050 homes with electricity per year