Landfill Monitoring

A priority over the past year has been to complete installation of a landfill gas extraction system at the former Los Angeles Landfill (now Balloon Fiesta Park's RV parking area). The first of its kind in New Mexico, the extraction system removes 3.4 tons of landfill gas daily. Landfill gas removal diminishes the potential for landfill contaminants to travel as a gas and dissolve into the ground water. It also protects the public's health and safety from the potential for these gases to concentrate in enclosed areas where harmful vapors could be inhaled or an explosive situation could occur.

The newest addition to the landfill gas extraction system is a gas-to-energy system. Also the first of its kind in New Mexico, the gas-to-energy system consists of a 70kW microturbine that captures the landfill gas and produces electricity. The microturbine was acquired and installed with the assistance of a Clean Energy grant from the New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources.

See an interactive map on City landfills.

Interim Health and Safety Guidelines

If a person/company wishes to develop property within 1,000 feet of a City landfill, steps must be taken prior to development. Read more about interim landfill guidelines.

Future Challenges

• Remediate ground water contamination originating from former landfills.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the landfill gas extraction system through close monitoring of the ground water, methane wells and underground structures in the nearby area.
• Evaluate alternative energy uses for the landfill gas being removed at other closed landfills.
• Monitor, characterize and, if necessary, clean up eight additional former City-owned and/or operated landfills to protect the environment and the public's health and safety.