Mississippi Landfill Methane Outreach Program

Use Of Landfill Gas Provides Environmental, Economic And Energy Benefits

The Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary assistance and partnership program that the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) administers in our state in partnership with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The purpose of the program is to facilitate and promote the use of landfill gas as a renewable energy source.

MDEQ’s mission through LMOP is to protect the environment and public health by reducing methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills by helping develop landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) projects in Mississippi. MDEQ’s goal through this program is to provide environmental, economic and energy benefits to the businesses and communities of the state. In partnering with the EPA, MDEQ committed to forming a state task force, developing a primer on the state’s landfill gas-to-energy potential, and holding a statewide workshop. While the EPA expects these major tasks to be completed by a state ally in two years, MDEQ accomplished all these tasks within six months. Because of MDEQ’s success at completing its partnership tasks, EPA has recognized the agency’s LMOP program development efforts as a model for other states.

Since joining LMOP, MDEQ has worked towards the development of landfill gas projects in the state. The agency has provided assistance to landfill owners, project developers and potential end users to encourage the development of landfill gas projects in Mississippi. MDEQ has also worked to encourage other state and local organizations and businesses to become official LMOP partners. Currently, there are 10 LMOP partners in the state. There are 2 state partners in MDEQ and Mississippi Development Authority; 4 community partners in the City of Jackson, the City of Canton, the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, and Pearl River County; and 4 industry partners in Waste Management, Inc., Neel-Schaffer, Inc., Cook Coggin Engineers, Inc., and Green Energy Advantage, LLC.

MDEQ was recognized by EPA as the 2004 EPA LMOP State Partner of the Year Award for building successful partnerships with stakeholders and demonstrating consistent commitment and support to promote the landfill gas energy use in the state. MDEQ continues to encourage the development of successful LFGTE projects in the state. Mississippi currently has 11 landfills that have been identified as candidates having the potential to support an economically viable LFGTE project and 5 landfills with LFGTE projects in operation. Additional information on these landfills can be found using the links below.