An unintended consequence of landfilling garbage is the emission
of greenhouse gases, yuck! A modern landfill, however, can
capture nasty methane gas and turn it into electricity.
Presently, about one-quarter of the municipal solid waste (MSW)
landfills in the United States are capable of capturing methane
gas and turning it into energy, making it available for homes
and local industry. It is estimated that at least as many more
also have the potential to capture energy. Imagine this; maybe
one day garbage will become a commodity. Holly Fretwell is a
Research Fellow at PERC and an adjunct instructor at Montana
State University where she has taught introductory economics,
macroeconomics, natural resources and environmental economics.
She works with the Foundation for Teaching Economics, giving
workshops for high school teachers to improve their skills in
teaching and... Founded 30 years ago in Bozeman, Montana,
PERC—the Property and Environment Research Center—is the
nation’s oldest and largest institute dedic