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The Gas Flare at Knott Landfill

The Department of Solid Waste has constructed a landfill gas collection system.  During the normal decomposition process, garbage produces methane, a flammable gas similar to propane and natural gas.  To properly and safely manage the gas, a flare has been installed to burn it off.  The flame, which is typically blue in color, may be visible from nearby roads and residences at night. If you look carefully at the picture below, you can see the haze produced from the heat.

Gas Flare 

Currently, the landfill does not produce enough gas to allow for a beneficial use of the gas such as a fuel source for the production of electricity.

"At some point in the future, we will have enough waste in the landfill to take advantage of this resource.  Until then, we will burn the minimum amount of gas needed to properly manage the gas," says Chad Centola, the department's Operations Manager. 

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