Decomposing garbage may seem useless. But it‘s actually going to help generate energy at the St. Louis County landfill in Virginia.

That’s because the county installed a geo-thermal system in their latest cell, which will capture the energy through a series of pipes.

It’s the first of its kind project in the state, and the county is proud. They held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday.

“The concept is simple,” said Dave Fink, St. Louis County Environmental Services Director. “As garbage decomposes, it naturally produces heat. We are now able to capture that energy and will use it to heat our leachate treatment plant, which is the next phase of this project.”

The newest cell at the St. Louis County Landfill spans 10 acres and has a specialized liner with coils at its base. The geo-thermal liner will collect the heat produced by the decomposing waste above it, which is expected to reach 120 degrees. That energy will then be transferred to the leachate treatment plant that will be constructed approximately a quarter of a mile away. Construction of the leachate treatment plant is currently out for bids and is expected to be complete and operational in 2026.

The total cost to construct the new cell is $3 million. The geo-thermal liner added only $33,000 to the cost and is expected to pay for itself within the first year of operation.

More significantly, the project is seen as a blueprint for future waste management facilities, including the county’s new campus being planned for Canyon.