If you've been out past Coulter & Hollywood Road you are well aware Amarillo is growing at a remarkable rate.

Along with more tax revenue more residents also means more trash.  The growth has caused the landfill to release more gas than anticipated.

Trash at the landfill naturally produces gas.  The infrastructure currently in place to abate the gas from the trash is at capacity and the landfill is releasing more gas than the system can handle.  Although it has happened quicker than expected the city does have a contingency plan in place.

In order to alleviate the problem the city will purchase and install a gas collection and containment system.  The cost for the new equipment is about $5.5 million dollars.  City officials say that money will come from landfill fees.

Officials with the city have said if the city doesn't build the new system, Amarillo could face fines from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The project has an estimated completion date of March 2018.

 

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