Toyota, the company that made hybrid cars commonplace, is at it again with another game changer. This time, it’s garbage that’s literally fueling the revolution.
Methane from the garbage, that is. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. recently teamed up with a local company, Waste Services of the Bluegrass, to harness the power of a landfill to make cars. Wells under the landfill will collect methane gas that is naturally produced when waste breaks down, feed it into fuel generators to create electricity, then carry it to the nearby Toyota plant.
Construction begins on the ambitious project this month and is slated to be finished by early 2015. No small feat, Toyota estimates that the energy supplied each year will be enough to make 10,000 cars. Every hour, the system is expected to produce one megawatt electricity per hour — or the amount of energy needed to power 800 homes.
The Georgetown, Ky. plant is Toyota’s largest American manufacturing facility and is already no stranger to eco-friendly innovations. A “zero landfill” facility since 2006, all waste gets repurposed in some way. The plant, which manufactures the Avalon, Camry/Camry Hybrid, Venza, 4-cylinder and V6 engines and powertrain parts, includes a composter which fertilizes an onsite garden that supplies local food banks.
It might be unorthodox, but Toyota’s latest move is right in line with their mission to build a greener community for all. Come browse our huge selection of Toyota vehicles at DCH Freehold Toyota today!
