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Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians

History

Concern for the environment grew during the 1960s and 1970s, when many environmental regulations were introduced to reduce and prevent pollution and other hazards. For example, the Clean Air Act, established in 1970, aims to protect the public's health and welfare by regulating emissions of hazardous air pollutants. The act has been amended over the years and now mandates that landfills of certain sizes install and operate landfill gas collection and control systems. The recent focus on landfills is because they can be dangerous to the environment and people. They contain municipal solid waste that decomposes into organic waste that produces biogas. Biogas contains methane, which is flammable.

Municipal solid waste landfills can be a good source of energy. The methane that is produced as a byproduct of landfills is the "same energy-rich gas found in natural gas, which is used for heating, cooking, and producing electricity," according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Some landfills control the methane gas emissions simply by burning or flaring methane gas. Many landfills collect and treat biogas, then sell the methane, and some landfills generate electricity by using methane gas.  

Companies today need methane/landfill gas generation system technicians to help them monitor, operate, and maintain landfill gas generation and collection systems and equipment. Their work helps to ensure that methane/landfill systems are operating correctly, efficiently, and in accordance with environmental regulations.  

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