Turning Today’s Waste into Pipeline-Quality Renewable Natural Gas
The Linden Renewable Energy Project: Cleaner Energy for the Future
Food waste is a growing issue affecting communities across the country and today, it accounts for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.* The waste is often trucked or freighted hundreds of miles to landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. But there’s a better solution. Through anaerobic digestion, food waste can be converted into renewable natural gas (RNG), a cleaner energy source that can be injected directly into existing gas pipelines. From fueling transportation fleets to powering homes and industries, RNG is a practical step toward a cleaner, and more resilient energy future.
The Process
Anaerobic digestion is a proven method for managing waste and transforming it into an energy‑producing asset through a biological process that occurs in an oxygen‑free environment, where waste such as food scraps and other biodegradable matter is turned into biogas and digestate. This biogas can be upgraded and injected into a pipeline for immediate use. The process also produces digestate (in the form of compost or fertilizer) that can be used in community gardens, parks, and other spaces.
By capturing the energy potential of food waste, anaerobic digestion lowers landfill dependency while helping businesses, municipalities, and institutions meet their sustainability and waste management goals.
The Power of Anaerobic Digestion:
- Diverts waste destined for a landfill
- Is a renewable, efficient energy production method*
- Reduces methane emissions into the atmosphere
- Provides cleaner, renewable energy to heat homes or businesses
- Produces a usable byproduct – fertilizer and nutrient-rich compost
Project Details
The Linden Renewable Energy (LRE) project, established in 2024 and set to be fully operational in 2027, is a facility that will turn food waste into RNG while revitalizing a formerly contaminated brownfield site. The strategically located facility will serve partners across upstate and downstate New Jersey, as well as New York City, New York State, Long Island, and Connecticut. By directly integrating into the Elizabethtown Gas system with no additional infrastructure, the LRE project will provide a seamless solution for delivering cleaner energy to local natural gas customers in Central and Northern New Jersey.
LRE is anticipated to avoid an estimated amount of approximately 120,000 metric tons of CO₂e annually when working at full capacity and produce approximately 3,800 MMBtu per day of pipeline quality RNG from approximately 1,500 tons per day of pre-processed source separated organic (SSO) food waste. This is the energy equivalent of fueling approximately 25,000 cars with gasoline each day.
The project also demonstrates how innovative and competitive waste management solutions can reduce environmental impact while turning environmental challenges into reliable, cleaner energy resources. By capturing methane from food waste and converting it into RNG, the project not only avoids harmful emissions but also ensures that communities have access to a renewable, locally produced energy source that strengthens both sustainability efforts and energy resilience.
In addition to its environmental impact, the LRE project is expected to contribute to the region through job creation, increased tax revenue, and long-term municipal partnerships.
“This project represents a monumental step forward in delivering sustainable energy solutions. Not only will it significantly advance waste management for the New York/New Jersey metro area, but it will also provide our communities with cleaner and more reliable renewable natural gas.”
Chet Benham, President of SJI Renewable Energy Ventures
The LRE Project Works to Fulfill Community Needs By:
Providing a competitive low-cost waste management solution
(Source: EPA.gov)
Empowering local businesses to fuel their communities
Encouraging businesses to contribute to local energy production and sustainability by utilizing renewable resources
Streamlining waste management and reducing environmental impact
Enhancing waste disposal efficiency, reducing landfill volume, and decreasing the environmental impact of waste
Transforming waste into valuable resources
Beyond RNG, the process creates nutrient-rich compost and fertilizer, supporting soil health and agriculture investments
Driving economic growth through job creation and increased revenue
Generating hundreds of local employment opportunities and boosting tax revenue
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing climate resilience
Avoiding methane emissions from landfills and contributing to a cleaner and more resilient local infrastructure
The Partnership:
Expanding our work with food waste producers and service providers ensures that waste is converted into a sustainable asset before it hits landfills. Curbing the need to transport waste hundreds of miles or across state lines, the LRE project is deeply committed to decarbonizing food waste and ongoing collaboration with local, regional, and national partners and regulators. Our goal is to help partners reduce carbon intensity immediately without requiring capital investments.
Partnering With the LRE Project to Work Towards Sustainability Goals
Business Owners
As a business owner, adopting a sustainable approach to food waste isn’t just good for the planet – it could be good for your bottom line and brand reputation. By diverting food waste from landfills, businesses may increase recycling rates, contribute to renewable energy production and potentially lower costs to manage their waste. Work with us to strengthen customer trust, attract eco-conscious consumers, and position your business as a leader in sustainable practices.
Municipalities
Taking a sustainable approach to food waste management can support efforts to reduce environmental impact while increasing community engagement. By diverting waste from landfills, you reduce landfill volume, avoid emissions, and support local sustainability goals. Providing visibility into where your waste goes and how it’s used can build public trust, educate residents, and demonstrate your commitment to local and state-wide renewable energy goals.
Hospitals, Universities, & Corporate Campuses
While generating food waste can’t be avoided, diverting food waste from landfills may increase recycling rates, can help contribute to positive renewable energy production, and may potentially lower costs to manage waste. LRE can be a partner to implement sustainable waste solutions that align with your goals – guiding you through the process, making it easy to start and simple to maintain.
Waste Haulers
Work towards improving operational efficiency by exploring opportunities to reduce the distance waste travels. Conveniently located off I-95, LRE could be a sustainable alternative for shorter drive times, lower transportation costs, and more coordinated use of waste management teams, while working towards maximizing the value of waste collected. By partnering with LRE, waste haulers can offer food waste diversion solutions that is valued by sustainability minded organizations and could result in new business opportunities.
Partner with LRE to bring sustainability to your business, community, and customers:
Join forces with us
Environment & Sustainability
- Help businesses work toward climate commitments and regulatory requirements
- Divert organic waste away from landfills, avoiding greenhouse gas emissions
Community Engagement
- Support innovative systems and contribute to job creation
- Demonstrate commitment to environmental stewardship and enhance brand reputation
Financial Value
- Streamline supply chain efficiency, potentially reducing operational complexity and reduce cost
- Potentially lower transportation costs and tipping fees with the LRE project’s location
We strive to lead the charge towards a cleaner energy future.
Learn how we can help your business move to a more sustainable future.