Deep in the woods that hide a huge landfill in Egg Harbor Township, pipes rumble as waste-born gas transforms into renewable energy.

Nearby, workers observe a 1-month-old system to ensure it is running flawlessly. All the while, that gas quietly flows into South Jersey homes and businesses—a silent investment born from their own trash.

Repurposing landfill gases is not a new phenomenon. However, the landfill, managed by the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, is the first public garbage dump in New Jersey to do so . More systems, including one in Burlington County, are on the horizon.

The emerging form of energy production is likely to help limit odors from the landfill that resemble rotten eggs, a scent at the center of an ongoing federal lawsuit , President Matt DeNafo said.

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