Companies are starting to convert landfill methane emissions into Bitcoin mining energy on-site

The premise is that landfill sites emit Landfill gas (LFG) as organic material decomposes, which is made up of about 50% methane gas (the main component of natural gas, commonly used for heating and cooking). It’s collected through systems at the landfill and undergoes processing to make it usable for electricity production, which can power Bitcoin mining equipment. Alternatively, it can be further refined to use as actual natural gas. LFG process. The problem with this can be transporting the LPG and methane - installing pipelines is really expensive and has environmental impacts.

Making energy from landfill gas isn’t new, but using it to mine BTC is. In the UK, the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) just awarded a contract to a consulting group exploring co-locating crypto mining on landfills. link This is a bit different than just using renewable energy in Bitcoin mining (like solar) - the UK DEFRA contract is actually exploring co-locating the mining facilities at landfills, which will reduce the exorbitant cost and environmental impact of installing gas pipelines leading away from landfills. Just about the only good use of lots of electricity generated right at a landfill from methane (rather than transporting the methane) would be crypto mining. source This is a novel solution to energy production to use in Bitcoin mining, and also helps to decrease resident complaints about noise from mining facilities, since there likely wouldn’t be too many residences in close proximity to landfills.

In the US, Vespene Energy is also working on a bitcoin mining using LFG. link They have a facility in California exploring this currently.

Capturing emissions from landfills and processing them to make usable electricity for mining Bitcoin - it’s a pretty awesome and renewable way to mine. Turning trash into digital gold. In the US, the EPA states there are 532 operational LFG energy projects and 466 additional sites that would be good candidates. Only 1 of these is currently utilized for Bitcoin mining. The few projects that are starting to utilize this in the US and globally are sort of revolutionary, and could definitely help with public perception of energy use for crypto mining as well.

TLDR: a few companies are working on using energy generated from landfill emissions to power Bitcoin mining. Locating the Bitcoin mining sites directly at landfills is a novel concept that makes good use of the electricity generated without need to install new gas pipelines away from landfills.