Dallas' biggest garbage dump could start turning trash into natural gas

I realize this is a blog post probably fraught with opportunities for the more witty among our blog readers, but here goes anyway: It turns out that Dallas' huge McCommas landfill could very well be on the cutting edge of U.S. energy production. Yes, the DMN reported over the weekend that a process to speed conversion of garbage into methane gas through biotechnology, and then turn the methane into natural gas to fuel up to 16,000 homes, begins in October. If the first fuel-cell process works, six additional cells are expected to be built. So all of the non-recyclables we're sending to the landfill could actually generate up to $50,000 per month for city coffers. Here's something else to think about: It's possible that the landfill, rather than fill up and eventually require more land for dumping waste, could continue as the city's permanent trash bin for another 100 years. Almost makes you feel proud to take the garbage out back, doesn't it?