L.A. Sanitation Districts expand food waste recycling system to produce vehicle fuel

In California, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts started up a biogas purification system to recycle food waste into renewable vehicle fuel which is then dispensed at the Sanitation Districts’ nearby fueling station that is open to the public.

“We’ve been converting food waste into electricity for over six years. With this new biogas purification system, we now also produce renewable natural gas that is used to fuel vehicles like cars, buses and trucks. We know that many cities are grappling with how to meet state requirements for recycling food waste and are pleased to offer a complete and cost-effective solution,” said Robert C. Ferrante, Chief Engineer and General Manager for the Sanitation Districts.

The biogas is used in two ways. Some is sent to the Sanitation Districts’ power plant located at the Carson facility where the biogas is converted to electricity that runs the treatment plant. The remaining biogasis sent to the new purification system to make fuel grade renewable natural gas. The purification system is capable of producing the renewable natural gas equivalent of 2,000 gallons of gasoline per day.