Upgrades at ReGen Monterey’s landfill take a step toward combating climate change.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about the upgrades ReGen Monterey recently made at its landfill to capture methane as a way to combat climate change and curb greenhouse emissions. 

David Schmalz reported about them in this week’s issue, noting these state-of-the-art improvements look unexceptional, as “they can look as simple as a pipe sticking out of the ground with a hose attached to it,” he wrote. 

Not very (visually) impressive, to say the least. However, good solutions aren’t always packed with clean lines or futuristic features; plus, the upgrade will remove the estimated emission equivalent to taking 13,000 vehicles off the road for a year and provide top-tier gas for its power plant.

The emission capture, Schmalz wrote, started as a small pilot project with LoCI Controls, a tech company specialized in reducing emissions and methane capture at landfills. In January, ReGen invested $828,187 to add it across the entire wellfield.

My first thoughts on this project weren’t about climate change, nor the potential it could have in the future, such as transforming methane into renewable natural gas. My mind was set on whether this would benefit the city of Marina, where ReGen is located, in any way. For years, residents have complained about foul smells and it isn’t certain where they come from—thanks to unique wind patterns and weather that traps odor. 

Methane is odorless by itself, but when it’s mixed with other gases found at landfills, it can create bad smells. Perhaps ReGen’s recent project is one step toward a better-smelling Marina.