Waga Energy has been selected to build, own and operate a Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) production unit at the Eco-Hill Landfill in Atkinson, Illinois, an affiliate of Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), one of the leading regional waste management companies in the Midwest. The facility will turn the gas naturally generated by the landfill into renewable energy for homes and businesses in the region.
The unit will have an initial capacity of 3,000 SCFM and will be equipped with the WAGABOX® technology, developed and patented by Waga Energy, which upgrades landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG for direct injection into the local gas grid. Once in operation, the facility will be able to produce up to approximately 610,000 MMBtu of RNG per year.
By substituting fossil natural gas, the project will avoid the emissions of approximately 47,500 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year, based on the calculation methodology of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The RNG produced at Eco-Hill will be injected into the local gas grid, giving homes and businesses in the region a reliable source of local renewable energy.
Under a long-term agreement, Waga Energy will finance the unit and market the RNG it produces; in return, Eco-Hill Landfill will receive a share of the revenue generated by these sales. The unit is expected to reach commercial operation in 2028.
The Eco-Hill Landfill, owned and operated by one of LRS’s affiliated companies, currently accepts more than 1 million metric tons of municipal solid waste per year, most of it collected in the greater Chicago area. The gas naturally released as this waste decomposes will feed the future WAGABOX® unit.
The WAGABOX® unit will be supplied with gas captured by the landfill’s existing gas collection system, which is currently flared. The project will give this gas a new outlet, converting waste collected in Illinois into an energy resource for the Atkinson area and the wider region.
“Partnering with Waga Energy to convert landfill gas into clean, renewable energy strengthens our region and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability,” said Matt Spencer, CEO of LRS. “This project reduces significant emissions and delivers the kind of environmental leadership our customers expect from LRS.”
“We are honored to partner with LRS on this project,” said Guénaël Prince, co-founder and CEO of Waga Energy Inc. “By producing high-quality RNG on site, we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide the community with a reliable, local and renewable source of energy. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to environmental protection and to the people of Atkinson and Illinois.”