What is Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and how is it produced from landfills?

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is biogas that has been captured from organic waste decomposition, such as in landfills, and purified to remove carbon dioxide, water, and other trace elements. Once processed to meet pipeline-quality standards, it is chemically identical to conventional fossil-derived natural gas and can be used in the same infrastructure and vehicles.

Why are waste management companies like GFL partnering with energy developers like OPAL Fuels?

Waste management companies own the raw resource (landfill gas) but often lack the specialized energy infrastructure and marketing expertise to refine and sell it. Partnering with developers like OPAL Fuels allows waste companies to share the capital expenditure burden, leverage specialized gas-processing technology, and maximize the value of environmental credits generated by the fuel.

How do these projects contribute to global decarbonization efforts?

These projects provide a double environmental benefit: they prevent raw methane—a highly potent greenhouse gas—from escaping into the atmosphere, and they substitute high-emission diesel fuel in heavy-duty trucking with a low-carbon, renewable alternative. This circular economy approach is one of the fastest ways to reduce the carbon footprint of regional logistics networks.

Rigzone · June 7, 2026 (Jun 7) · 1 min read

OPAL Fuels, GFL Agree 2 Landfill Gas Projects

Analysis

AI-assisted analysis · reviewed by Yuri Kan

OPAL Fuels and GFL Environmental have solidified their waste-to-energy partnership by greenlighting two new Landfill Gas (LFG) to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) reclamation facilities in the US Southeast. This strategic expansion leverages municipal solid waste decomposition to capture methane, converting an environmental liability into a high-value, low-carbon transportation fuel. The initiative underscores the accelerating commercial viability of RNG as heavy-duty transport sectors face mounting pressure to decarbonize.

Key Facts

OPAL Fuels and GFL Environmental have formally agreed to develop two new joint landfill gas-to-energy projects in the United States.
The first renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility will be constructed at the Stones Throw Landfill located in Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
The second RNG reclamation facility is slated for development at the Grady Road Landfill in Polk County, Georgia.
Both projects aim to capture naturally occurring biogenic methane emissions from decomposing waste and refine them into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas.
The captured and processed RNG will be utilized primarily as an alternative, ultra-low-carbon fuel for heavy-duty commercial vehicle fleets.
This collaboration represents a continuation of the ongoing joint venture strategy between waste management giant GFL and renewable energy developer OPAL Fuels.

Background & Context

Landfill gas is a natural byproduct of the decomposition of organic material in municipal solid waste landfills, consisting of roughly 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide. Historically, this gas was flared or vented, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Over the past decade, regulatory incentives like the US EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) have transformed landfill methane capture into a highly lucrative sub-sector of the natural gas industry, attracting major infrastructure investments.

Market Impact

These projects strengthen OPAL Fuels' portfolio of operating RNG assets while helping GFL Environmental monetize its landfill assets and meet corporate sustainability targets. By capturing methane—a greenhouse gas over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide—the projects yield significant environmental credits (RINs) that enhance project economics. For the broader energy market, this incremental RNG supply helps displace fossil-derived natural gas in the transportation sector, particularly for municipal and commercial fleets looking for immediate, drop-in decarbonization solutions.

What to Watch

Moving forward, the partners will transition into the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) phases for both the Alabama and Georgia sites, with commercial operation dates expected to be announced in the coming quarters. Industry analysts will be watching the regulatory landscape closely, as the pricing of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) will heavily dictate the long-term profitability of these assets. Additionally, success here could pave the way for GFL to greenlight similar RNG conversion projects across its extensive North American landfill portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and how is it produced from landfills?: Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is biogas that has been captured from organic waste decomposition, such as in landfills, and purified to remove carbon dioxide, water, and other trace elements. Once processed to meet pipeline-quality standards, it is chemically identical to conventional fossil-derived natural gas and can be used in the same infrastructure and vehicles.
Why are waste management companies like GFL partnering with energy developers like OPAL Fuels?: Waste management companies own the raw resource (landfill gas) but often lack the specialized energy infrastructure and marketing expertise to refine and sell it. Partnering with developers like OPAL Fuels allows waste companies to share the capital expenditure burden, leverage specialized gas-processing technology, and maximize the value of environmental credits generated by the fuel.
How do these projects contribute to global decarbonization efforts?: These projects provide a double environmental benefit: they prevent raw methane—a highly potent greenhouse gas—from escaping into the atmosphere, and they substitute high-emission diesel fuel in heavy-duty trucking with a low-carbon, renewable alternative. This circular economy approach is one of the fastest ways to reduce the carbon footprint of regional logistics networks.

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