Windfall Bio expands methane capture efforts with new landfill trial

Windfall Bio, a startup developing technology to convert methane emissions into valuable products, announced the deployment of its microbial biocover at Republic Services’ Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Los Angeles as part of a field trial.

The field trial involves Windfall’s membrane-based biocover, or “mems,” being applied directly to landfill surfaces. According to the company, the microbes in the biocover consume methane, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, and other odorants typically found in landfill gas. The approach is expected to help reduce odor and improve local air quality, while mitigating climate impact.

“By implementing innovative solutions like Windfall’s mems, we can address air quality concerns utilizing approaches that are new to the municipal solid waste industry,” said Michael Stewart, general manager of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill. The trial was initiated in partnership with the site’s Local Enforcement Agency, which identified Windfall as a promising solution for emissions management.

The company’s technology is part of a broader effort to shift methane management practices from flaring to productive use. Windfall aims to convert captured methane into carbon credits and organic fertilizers, offering an alternative to routine gas flaring — which, according to the World Bank, increased by 3 billion cubic meters in 2024 to its highest level since 2007.

In a recent presentation at the Southwestern Fertilizer Conference, Windfall’s Chief Commercial Officer, Manoj Sahoo, highlighted the company’s Foundation Fertilizer, produced from captured methane. The product is described as offering both quick- and slow-release nitrogen, and performing better in uptake tests than animal-derived alternatives.