Los Angeles-Rentech Inc. said March 11 that it is expanding its initiative to produce synthetic biofuels from garbage, often referred to as municipal solid waste (MSW). Rentech, having developed, patented, and licensed clean-energy technology for over a quarter-century, will pursue projects in large municipalities to convert garbage that otherwise would be buried at landfills into ultra-clean, biodegradable jet fuel, potentially meeting the needs of local airports and communities. “The Rentech Process can help solve waste management issues by utilizing waste streams such as MSW for the production of synthetic biofuels,” stated Richard Penning, Rentech executive vice president of commercial affairs. “For example, the County of Los Angeles alone creates close to 42,000 tons of garbage each day, and the City is quickly running out of landfill space to dispose of its waste.” The production of biofuels from MSW using the Rentech Process could have a potentially carbon neutral or even carbon negative footprint, while extending the life of existing landfills. These fuels are also cleaner burning and more efficient than petroleum-derived fuels. Rentech recently hired D. Edwards Inc., a waste management consulting firm, to assess market opportunities for converting MSW to synthetic biofuels, with a focus on California. The company also recently hired a former World Waste Technology executive to lead the initiative.
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