Forget about the recession! Land-

fill sites have got some very wealthy

admirers. Once labelled as a necessary

evil, some environmentalists regarded

them as blight on the landscape, and a

modern-day representation of society’s

wastefulness. But while environmen-

talists have undoubtedly played a big

part in enhancing public awareness on

waste issues, it is tighter waste legisla-

tion in the UK, Europe and Japan that is

pushing real change in this sector – and

creating opportunities for savvy prop-

erty investors. So far, it’s reallionares

who are capitalising on the lucrative

opportunity of reinventing landfill sites

into bio-gas fields (or LFGE – Land-

fill Gas to Energy). What’s more, this

alternative ‘annuity-style’ commercial

property investment is quickly growing

in popularity. 

In 2005, there were 396 opera-

tional landfill natural gas projects in

the USA, according to Brian Guzzone,

team leader of the Landfill Methane

Outreach Program (LMOP) under the

United Nations Framework Conven-

tion on Climate Change. On the latest

count, dating June 2012, there were

approximately 594 sites, said the LMOP.

This estimated number of sites has the

potential to produce 210 billion cubic

felectricity a year. 

MULTIPLE CASH FLOW STREAMS:

Solar energy and wind farms may generate more cash

than waste-converted into electricity, but when it comes to

producing bio-fuel it has no rivals as a cash-cow asset.

Currently, waste disposal is paid for by councils throughout

the UK through landfill taxes of approximately £40 per

metric ton, which will rise to £72 per metric ton between

2013 and 2014. So, do the maths yourself.

The most cash paid for bio-fuel comes from the trans-

portation industry with all major airlines tying up deals in

one form or another. Additional revenue streams gener-

ate cash from Feed-in-Tariff, carbon credit and tax equity.

WWW.GOOGLE.COM

THE CHANGING

FACE OF WASTE: 

Traditionally, landfills received a

broad mix of non-hazardous waste with

low pH levels. But odd things happen

to buried waste over time. Landfill gas

is created when organic waste in a

municipal solid waste landfill site de-

composes. The pH level in landfill sites

rises to cause methane, of which, 50%

of landfill gas is, and the other 50%

consists of carbon dioxide (CO2). Tradi-

tionally, landfills received a broad mix

of non-hazardous waste with low pH

levels. But odd things happen to buried

waste over time. Landfill gas is created

when organic waste in a municipal

solid waste landfill site decomposes. The

pH level in landfill sites rises to cause

methane, of which, 50% of landfill gas

is, and the other 50% consists of carbon

dioxide (CO2).  

Traditionally, landfills received a

broad mix of non-hazardous waste with

low pH levels. But odd things happen

to buried waste over time. Landfill

gas is created when organic waste in

a municipal solid waste landfill site

decomposes. The pH level in landfilenta-

tion of society’s wastefulness. But while

environmentalists have undoubtedly

played a big part in enhancing public

awareness on waste issues, it is tighter

waste legislation in the UK, Europe and

Japan that is pushing real change in

this sector – and creating opportunities

for savvy property investors. So far, it’s

reallionares who are capitalising on

the lucrative opportunity of reinventing

landfill sites into bio-gas fields (or LFGE

– Landfill Gas to Energy). What’s more,

this alternative ‘annuity-style’ com-

mercial property investment is quickly

growing in popularity. 

In 2005, there were 396 opera-

tional landfill natural gas projects in

the USA, according to Brian Guzzone,

team leader of the Landfill Methane

Outreach Program (LMOP) under the

United Nations Framework Conven-

tion on Climate Change. On the latest

count, dating June 2012, there were

approximately 594 sites, said the LMOP.

This estimated number of sites has the

potential to produce 210 billion cubic

felectricity a year. 

l sites rises to cause methane, of

which, 50% of landfill gas is, and the

other 50% consists of carbon dioxide

(CO2). 

In 2005, there were 396 opera-

tional landfill natural gas projects in

the USA, according to Brian Guzzone,

team leader of the Landfill Methane

Outreach Program (LMOP) under the

United Nations Framework Conven-

tion on Climate Change. On the latest

count, dating June 2012, there were

approximately 594 sites, said the LMOP.

This estimated number of sites has the

potential to produce 210 billion cubic

felectricity a year. 

In England, the number of LFGEs has

also increased from 29 sites in 2001 to

around 264 sites in 2011. Generating

renewable natural gas (RNG) and/or

renewable electricity from landfill gas

fields is a real example of how to turn

a liability into an asset, as a LFGE site

is now regarded as ‘Green gold’. The

number of LFGE developments has also

significantly risen over a ten year pe-

riod in other countries, such as, France,

Sweden & Japan.

In England, the number of LFGEs

has also increased from 29 sites in

2001 to around 264 sites in 2011.

Generating renewable natural gas

(RNG) and/or renewable electric-

ity from landfill gas fields is a real

example of how to turn a liability

into an asset, as a LFGE site is now

regarded as ‘Green gold’. The num-

ber of LFGE developments has also

significantly risen over a ten year

period in other countries, such as,

France, Sweden & Japan.