 | |  Fred Weber-Pattonville High School Landfill Gas Recovery Project
| Location | Maryland Heights, Missouri | | End User(s) | Pattonville High School, Fred Weber, Inc. | | Sector(s) | School, Cement, Asphalt | | Landfill(s) | Fred Weber Sanitary Landfill | | Landfill Size | 5.4 million tons waste-in-place (1998) | | Project Type | Boiler and Direct Thermal | | Project Size | 900 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) | | Savings | $27,000 annually for Pattonville High School | | Environmental Benefits | Carbon sequestered annually by 24,300 acres of pine or fir forests, annual greenhouse gas emissions from 19,600 passenger vehicles, or carbon dioxide emissions from 248,500 barrels of oil consumed. Annual energy savings equate to heating 2,900 homes. Estimated emissions reductions of 0.0291 million metric tons of carbon equivalents. |
Fred Weber, Inc., a large construction company near St. Louis, Missouri, operates and manages several quarries, an asphalt plant, and a landfill. Since 1992, the Fred Weber Sanitary Landfill has collected the landfill gas (LFG) from the landfill and used it for its asphalt plant burner and concrete ready mix plant boiler. The remainder of the gas was flared.
Pattonville High School is located less than a mile from the landfill, and the school’s ecology club took the initiative to suggest that the school board look into using the LFG as an alternative fuel for its boilers. After feasibility studies and an economic analysis, the school board determined that the projected cost savings were worthwhile. In 1997, Fred Weber partnered with Pattonville High School to develop a LFG energy project.
The project’s highlights include:
- Generates awareness of and demand for renewable energy.
- Prevents greenhouse gas emissions.
- Promotes public-private cooperation.
- Provides significant fuel cost savings.
The school received a $150,000 loan from Missouri Department of Natural Resources and a $25,000 grant from the St. Louis County Solid Waste Commission. Fred Weber invested an additional $220,000 for the pipeline construction, for a total cost of $395,000.
The recovered LFG fuels the school’s boilers, saving the school about $27,000 annually, depending on the market value of natural gas. At this rate the school has been able to recover its cost. However, since Fred Weber gives the LFG to the school district for free, Fred Weber’s investment will not be recovered, at least not financially.
Last Updated: 8/18/2008
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