We Need to Get Behind Renewable Natural Gas
By supporting the production of renewable natural gas, or RNG, Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to boost the state’s commitment to reducing food waste in landfills while increasing the supply of clean energy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere.
RNG is a carbon-free fuel alternative derived by extracting methane from decomposing food scraps and animal manure in a process that sustainably repurposes waste products into a renewable power source. RNG is transported and distributed through existing infrastructure, so there is no need to build new pipelines.
Massachusetts is a national leader in the fight against food waste. Since 2014, the Commonwealth has banned commercial organic waste disposal in landfills, which has inspired companies to come up with innovative recycling solutions such as sending scraps and expired products to RNG-producing facilities. But there is more to be done to confront the epic challenges of climate change and waste reduction.