EPA’s Final Rule for Renewable Fuel Standards Includes Landfill Gas Among Additional Fuel Pathways for Cellulosic Biofuels
National Waste & Recycling Association Welcomes Development
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2014 /3BL Media/ — The National Waste & Recycling Association (NW&RA) today applauded a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish a final rule qualifying additional fuel pathways as cellulosic biofuel, including landfill gas, under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.
According to the final rule, the EPA will allow biogas from landfills to be counted as cellulosic biofuels under the standard. Specifically, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and electricity used to power vehicles derived from landfill biogas or separated municipal solid waste digesters will qualify as cellulosic and advanced fuel pathways. The EPA did not finalize qualifications for waste-derived renewable diesel, naptha and renewable gasoline from biogas.
Cellulosic biofuels are advanced biofuels that help the United States be less dependent on imported petroleum. The EPA mandates renewable fuel obligations annually, and in 2014, its mandated obligation for renewable fuels is 17 million gallons. From the waste that it currently manages, the American waste and recycling industry can generate enough energy to meet this 2014 target.
“The waste and recycling industry welcomes this final rule,” said Sharon H. Kneiss, president and CEO of NW&RA. “The EPA’s decision to qualify biogas from landfills as a cellulosic pathway advances the agency’s goal of increasing the amount of biofuels available to the fuel industry and provides incentives for the further development of landfill gas to energy projects.
“These projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills by capturing methane and offsetting the use of fossil fuels,” she added. “With the changes from this new rule, the landfill biogas market has a more valuable product and the fuel industry has access to greater volumes of cellulosic biofuels.”
The final rule can be accessed at www.ecpa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/documents/rfs-path-II-fr-07-02-14.pdf.
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The National Waste & Recycling Association is the trade association that represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that collect and manage garbage, recycling and medical waste, equipment manufacturers and distributors and a variety of other service providers. For more information about how innovation in the environmental services industry is helping to solve today’s environmental challenges, visit www.beginwiththebin.org.
