Fujifilm powers Greenwood plant with local methane

"The completion of this project is a major accomplishment and a step in the right direction for the environment," says Shin Kataoka, president, Fujifilm Manufacturing. "The landfill gas to energy project goes a long way toward meeting our global target for reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere."

Globally Fujifilm has committed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 40 percent from its 1990 numbers by 2012, and is engaged in the active pursuit of new energy fuels that will prevent global warming. The company recently announced plans to develop a wind farm in Tilburg, The Netherlands, to supply a portion of the electricity needs of Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe B.V., which manufactures color photo paper and offset printing plates.

By using the methane as energy in Greenwood, Fujifilm is preventing methane emissions from being released into the atmosphere from the landfill, the company said. Fujifilm uses the gas in two of its specially equipped boilers with a dual burner system that can be switched back and forth between landfill source methane and natural gas purchased from the Commission of Public Works. Fujifilm plans to use at least 197 billion Btu’s of energy from the landfill per year.

The 500-acre complex currently manufactures digital and conventional pre-sensitized plates, QuickSnap one-time-use recyclable cameras, and color photographic paper.