Each day millions of tons of municipal solid waste are disposed off in sanitary landfills and dump sites around the world. Land Fill Gases (LFG) are created as a natural byproduct of decomposing organic matter. When garbage decomposes or when waste in a landfill decomposes, methane gas is created. Environmentalists and all those concerned with the environment view methane gas very negatively as it is a relatively potent greenhouse gas with high global warming potential . Methane is not toxic; however, it is highly flammable and may form explosive mixtures with air. Methane is also an asphyxiant and may displace oxygen in an enclosed space. When structures are built on or near landfills, methane off-gas can penetrate the buildings' interiors expose occupants to significant levels of methane. Some buildings have specially engineered recovery systems below their basements to actively capture such fugitive off-gas and vent it away from the building. Municipal solid waste landfills are the largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States . It is about 50% methane, also known as natural gas and 45% carbon dioxide. Growth and concentration of the livestock industry create opportunities for the proper disposal of the large quantities of manures generated at dairy, swine and poultry farms. The potential pollutants from decomposing livestock manures are biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pathogens, nutrients, methane, and ammonia emissions. There is also concern about the contribution of methane emissions to global climate change.

Consequently, manure management systems that enable prevent pollution prevention and produce energy are becoming increasingly attractive. Recently, methane gas has found increasing productive use and is being seen as a positive byproduct of landfills. Instead of allowing landfill gas to escape into the air, or burning it off, the gas can be captured, converted and used as an energy source. Using the gas helps to reduce odors and other hazards associated with landfill gas emissions, and it helps prevent methane from migrating into the atmosphere and contributing to local smog and global warming.
The Solid Waste Management Department of Idaho is using a pipeline grid made of HDPE pipe to collect methane and distribute to 24,000 homes in the area. The landfill is one of 335 methane conversion plants operational in the US with 500 more listed as candidates for the US Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP). The methane recovery system is composed of 13000 meters of HDPE pipe that is being installed as the landfill is created. Horizontal ditches are placed 30-35 meters, lined with fabric and bedded with two inch drain rock. PE pipes are fused together and perforated to allow the infiltration of gas. HDPE was chosen because it is resistant to the chemicals found in landfills and is expected to last for more than the 100 or so years that the landfill is expected to produce methane.
With every 7 meters of refuge, a new pipeline grid is fused together and laid out and another 7 meters of refuge piled on top. The gas in the landfill seeks the path of least resistance and enters the pipe through the perforation holes. The gas is then suctioned out and transported to generators to be converted to electricity. One of the most appealing aspects of the project is that once completed, the landfill will blend into the landscape of Southern Idaho . The refuge hills may climb as high as 25-27 meters. They are then capped with a layer of dirt and planted with native vegetation. In the end, the landfill will look just like the surrounding terrain. Because landfill gas is generated continuously, it provides a reliable fuel for a range of energy applications, including power generation.