Waste Not, Want Not

In 2006, the U.S. generated over 250 million tons of municipal solid waste, making it the largest landfill producer in the world.

As it turns out, this is good news. Located in our trash cans sits an abundant and unremitting supply of energy. Approximately 65 to 85 percent of the solid waste we generate each year is comprised of organic compounds or plastics, all of which can be converted into transportation fuels.

After sorting recyclable materials out, a typical Fulcrum plant operating at capacity will produce as much as 95 million gallons of transportation fuels a year—all from our most “useless” consumer byproduct.

What’s more, converting municipal solid waste solves an equally pressing environmental issue: reducing landfill emissions of methane, the most harmful greenhouse gas. And while our population’s generation of solid waste continues to grow, our disposal options do not. Using municipal solid waste for fuel effectively turns trash into a transportation treasure.