Waga’s Tech Opens Doors for Small-Scale Landfill RNG

Landfill gas remains the workhorse of U.S. biogas, comprising 72% of total capture capacity—offering huge monetization potential for operators. But there’s a catch. A good share of the nation’s 2,700 municipal solid waste sites do not produce enough to justify capital-intensive renewable natural gas (RNG) projects – or at best their options are limited.

Landfill gas remains the workhorse of U.S. biogas, comprising 72% of total capture capacity—offering huge monetization potential for operators. But there’s a catch.

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A good share of the nation’s 2,700 municipal solid waste sites do not produce enough to justify capital-intensive renewable natural gas (RNG) projects – or at best, their options are limited. 

But Waga Energy has a technology that unlocks economic potential for these average-sized landfills —those with gas flows of about 1,000 cubic feet per minute or less (correlating to roughly 150,000 tons of waste a year). 

The French tech developer not only pitches its WAGABOX can work with lesser quantities, but that it can prepare gas of any quality for pipeline injection. That’s a critical priority and a real pain point, as gas quality continuously fluctuates, challenging collection efficiency and challenging compliance.

High-quality gas production isn’t magic. Rather, it’s a straightforward application of chemistry and physics leveraging technology that has been around a while, says Tanguy Largeau, president of Waga U.S.

What’s innovative is the combining of two established processes in compact, prefabricated units. That’s what’s enabling smaller projects to pencil out. 

Designed for flows of 1,000 to 3,000-plus cubic feet, the modular systems integrate membrane filtration and low-pressure cryogenic distillation. Together, the two processes remove carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen from landfill gas to produce RNG with 98%-plus methane content. 

Waga runs 35 projects with 19 more under construction across Europe and North America. Of the total 54, 23 of them will be in North America. The company sets its sights on the U.S. in particular because of its dense gas infrastructure and credits for RNG, available through the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The federal policy, which requires a certain volume of renewable gas to be blended into transportation fuel, has driven over 500 projects from various feedstocks.

Vehicle transportation fuel remains the largest U.S. market. But increasing voluntary and regulatory decarbonization commitments worldwide are opening new markets in marine transport, utilities, and energy supply.

Here in the states, Waga is especially eyeing the utilities sector, particularly in California, where SB 1440 is spurring procurement requirements. The bill sets targets and eligibility standards for RNG to be sold under the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)-mandated procurement program.

Though how landfill gas-derived RNG will fit into the portfolios is still uncertain, says TJ Iezzoni, energy director Waga U.S.

“A lot of what's [sold to California’s utilities] isn't necessarily from landfill gas today. We are looking for a clarified regulatory framework. And we want to make sure that landfill gas finds its way into that framework,” Iezzoni says.He is optimistic.

“California is one of the largest utility markets with decarbonization targets. Projects there could really take off in 2026 if the Utilities Commission allows landfill gas to be eligible under the SB 1440 program,” he says. 

Leadership is targeting other regions too, whether for transportation fuel or utility procurement.

Historically, Waga has found success in the Northeast, since expanding to the West Coast and forging south. In January 2026, the team landed its first project in Florida, owned by Hillsborough County and operated by WM. 

“In Florida, in general, there is great opportunity for landfill gas to RNG. There's a very friendly regulatory environment there, and we’ve found great partners in the state, as well as strong opportunity for growth in North Carolina. But generally, we're looking at all states,” Largeau says.

Waga builds, finances, owns, and maintains the units and shares revenues from RNG sales with its landfill partners.

Projects have proven lucrative, creating new, high-margin returns for operators, but the expiration of federal tax credits has created some uncertainty around new developments. Still, sunsetting incentives have made Waga’s business model all the more attractive to some smaller operations. 

The Waste Commission of Scott County (WCSC), Iowa recently contracted to set up a WAGABOX at the Scott Area Landfill. With capacity to produce 205,000 MMBtu of RNG annually, it will generate the energy equivalent of 1.5 million gallons of diesel fuel. And it will avoid approximately 15,800 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions annually.

Capturing value from low-volume gas flows had historically proven hard for the Davenport operation. At one time, the landfill gas fed mining company Linwood Mining & Minerals’s kilns. But this beneficial use ultimately became financially nonviable. 

The Waste Commission explored multiple alternatives, but none proved cost-effective under the market and technology conditions that existed then, says Bryce Stalcup, executive director of The Waste Commission of Scott County.

The Waga proposition looked to be an answer – one that would likely work into the future.

“This project represents a unique public-private partnership. Linwood owns the land and retains ownership of the gas. Waga acts as the investor and provides the upgrading technology. WCSC is responsible for landfill operations. 

“This structure aligns ownership, operational control, and capital investment in a way that supports long-term project viability,” Stalcup says.

Waga recently made a major transition that it’s hopeful will accelerate its growth. In September 2025, it sold majority stake to EQT, Europe’s largest infrastructure fund. With this move, the plan is to deploy more units worldwide. The market is wide open, with 20,000 landfills that flare or do not collect landfill gas.

While the team chases opportunities created by international decarbonization policies, it’s also anticipating more business driven by U.S. operations’ voluntary commitments.“We want to make sure that we've got access to multiple markets in the event one of them becomes stronger or another weakens. That way, we've got the nimbleness to be able to target the right customer base.

“And we continue to work to balance how we serve the customer of today while opening the door to the customer of tomorrow,” Iezzoni says.

“We'll have to see where the industry goes. But for now, we are seeing a very large pipeline of potential projects, especially here in the United States.”