April 22, 2025. WM announced the opening of its new renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in DeKalb, Illinois, outside of Chicago. The $60 million WM DeKalb RNG facility is expected to generate approximately 1 million MMBtu per year of RNG, which serves the equivalent of 11,500 households annually or the ability to allocate fuel for up to 865 heavy-duty vehicles per day.
WM has one of the largest landfill gas-to-energy platforms in North America and has been a renewable energy player for 40 years. This is WM’s third RNG facility in the State of Illinois with the first facility opening in 2014 in Granite City, IL at WM’s Milam RNG facility. It is also part of WM’s broader planned investments in renewable energy, which are expected to total about $1.6 billion from 2022 through 2026.
“We are excited to celebrate our company’s latest renewable natural gas facility,” said Brad Pollock, WM Heartland Area Vice President. “The facility processes landfill gas into RNG, which is then delivered directly into the natural gas pipeline, providing a new energy source to the region.”
The DeKalb RNG facility processes landfill gas captured from the WM DeKalb Landfill as organic material decomposes to create RNG. Today, WM owns or hosts 22 RNG facilities at its landfills that convert landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG. WM’s RNG is pushed directly into natural gas pipelines, providing a lower-emission energy source for communities across North America.
DeKalb County is committed to responsible environmental stewardship,” said DeKalb County Board Chair John Frieders, “and this RNG facility aligns well with that vision. WM’s approach to converting landfill gas into renewable energy is another model for sustainable development. Our continued community partnership is appreciated by the County.”