Critical Analysis 5 - Waste Management
Brittany Bardo
Prof. Guntram Werther
Integrative Business Applications
4/9/15
Critical Analysis #5: Waste Management Although recycling rates have increased over the last few decades, more than 50% of U.S. waste still ends up in landfills (Markham, 2013). According to a study from Colombia University, if the U.S. were able to divert all municipal solid waste from landfills to waste-to-energy facilities, it could produce enough electricity to power nearly 14 million homes annually – that’s 12% of U.S. households (Cookson, 2014). Waste Management Inc. already has the ability to create energy out of its landfills by the usage of its sophisticated piping system. By pulling out methane gas to a centralized pipe, Waste Management can create energy by converting the electricity into diesel or (LNG) liquefied natural gas. Waste Management has put this landfill waste to energy technology into use in its own business operations as it deploys the nation’s largest heavy-duty trucks fleet powered by natural gas that is produced from the waste broken down in landfills ("Natural Gas Trucks: A Clean Take on the Business of Trash - America 's Natural Gas Alliance"). Waste Management has remained a pioneer and national leader in the use of natural gas for heavy duty trucks since the 1990s (Andrews, 2013). With over 2,200 alternatively fueled vehicles and the largest fleet of natural gas trucks in North America, the company has mastered the LNG technology for years and has an opportunity to create additional profits for itself. As a new profitable business for the company, Waste Management has an opportunity to position themselves as a source of alternative fuel or energy and sell the gas derived from landfills to companies and individual consumers throughout the United States. With the ability to produce diesel or LNG from its landfills, Waste Management should build LNG fueling stations across the country that are publically accessible to consumers and businesses.
Prof. Guntram Werther
Integrative Business Applications
4/9/15
Critical Analysis #5: Waste Management Although recycling rates have increased over the last few decades, more than 50% of U.S. waste still ends up in landfills (Markham, 2013). According to a study from Colombia University, if the U.S. were able to divert all municipal solid waste from landfills to waste-to-energy facilities, it could produce enough electricity to power nearly 14 million homes annually – that’s 12% of U.S. households (Cookson, 2014). Waste Management Inc. already has the ability to create energy out of its landfills by the usage of its sophisticated piping system. By pulling out methane gas to a centralized pipe, Waste Management can create energy by converting the electricity into diesel or (LNG) liquefied natural gas. Waste Management has put this landfill waste to energy technology into use in its own business operations as it deploys the nation’s largest heavy-duty trucks fleet powered by natural gas that is produced from the waste broken down in landfills ("Natural Gas Trucks: A Clean Take on the Business of Trash - America 's Natural Gas Alliance"). Waste Management has remained a pioneer and national leader in the use of natural gas for heavy duty trucks since the 1990s (Andrews, 2013). With over 2,200 alternatively fueled vehicles and the largest fleet of natural gas trucks in North America, the company has mastered the LNG technology for years and has an opportunity to create additional profits for itself. As a new profitable business for the company, Waste Management has an opportunity to position themselves as a source of alternative fuel or energy and sell the gas derived from landfills to companies and individual consumers throughout the United States. With the ability to produce diesel or LNG from its landfills, Waste Management should build LNG fueling stations across the country that are publically accessible to consumers and businesses.
Cited: Andrews, Jennifer. "Waste Management Opens 50th Natural Gas Fueling Station - DailyFinance." DailyFinance.com. 31 July 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2015. Cookson, Craig. "New Technologies Are Turning Garbage into Energy." U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. 10 Sept. 2014. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. Disbrow, Lisa, and Jennifer Andrews. "WASTE MANAGEMENT TO BUILD RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS FACILITY." Waste Management. 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. Mamos, David. "Buy, Sell or Hold: Talking Trash about Waste Management." Money Morning. 15 July 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2015. Markham, Derek. "Could Non-recycled Plastic Be Turned into a Low-carbon Fuel?" TreeHugger. 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2015. "Natural Gas Trucks: A Clean Take on the Business of Trash - America 's Natural Gas Alliance." ANGA. 16 May 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2015. "Refuse." NGVAmerica. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. "Waste Management Energy Production Rivals Solar Industry." Environmental Leader. 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.