Turning Waste Into Power: JBS Joins Forces With GreenGasUSA

JBS and GreenGasUSA turn methane from lagoons into pipeline fuel, cutting emissions equal to 60M miles driven

23 Sep 2025

A new partnership is giving the food industry waste a second life as clean energy. Meat processor JBS has teamed up with renewable energy firm GreenGasUSA to capture methane from wastewater and lagoons at its plants, converting it into natural gas that can be fed directly into pipelines.

The first projects are planned for facilities in Nebraska, Utah, and South Carolina. Methane generated during wastewater treatment will be trapped, purified, and injected into the gas grid. The debut site is slated to go live in early 2025, with two more following later that year. Together, the projects could slash emissions equal to 60 million miles driven by passenger cars.

For JBS, the move reflects both climate pressure and financial strategy. The company has faced growing criticism over its environmental record, and turning its own waste into fuel could lower its carbon footprint while unlocking clean energy credits and potential new revenue.

GreenGasUSA, which has worked with farms and municipalities on similar systems, will supply the technology and expertise to convert methane into usable energy. A company spokesperson framed the effort as proof that industrial operations can generate renewable power, not just consume it.

Analysts say the collaboration could serve as a blueprint for food and beverage companies wrestling with methane-heavy waste. Still, success will hinge on building out infrastructure and securing local support to move the gas from plant sites into regional pipelines.

Despite the challenges, optimism is running high. As one energy analyst put it, emissions are no longer just being managed. They are being turned into a resource.

If the model spreads, it could accelerate the clean energy shift by transforming a potent greenhouse gas into a marketable fuel. For industries under pressure to cut their climate impact, the message is clear: waste is no longer just a problem, it is an opportunity.