The WAGABOX® Unit Case Study: Scott Area Landfill, Davenport, Iowa

As of November 2025, the first WAGABOX® in Iowa was inaugurated, highlighting another example of leadership and dedication to environmental stewardship by the Waste Commission of Scott County (WCSC) and Linwood Mining & Minerals.

This project converts landfill gas into pipeline quality renewable natural gas (RNG) sold into the transportation fuel market utilizing a local pipeline built by MidAmerican Energy. This project provides substantial environmental benefit by avoiding 15,800 tons of CO2eq, which was previously flared and now provides 205,000 MMBtu annually to fuel natural gas-powered vehicles.

Waga Energy first approached WCSC and Linwood with an offer to build a WAGABOX® project at Scott Area Landfill in June of 2022. After a few months of discussions and site visits, the parties entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) in November 2022 to begin planning a 1000 scfm WAGABOX® project.

Over the following 6 months, project due diligence was carried out to evaluate future landfill gas flows, potential wellfield investment requirements, analysis of electrical infrastructure, and the assessment of two nearby pipelines for injection to determine the feasibility of the RNG project.

WCSC, Linwood, and Waga Energy strengthened their relationships throughout this process leading to the negotiation and signing of definitive agreements with all parties in July of 2023. The parties partnered with MidAmerican for construction of both the electrical and gas interconnections, which was carried out over the following 24 months.

Additionally, the project was supported by Foth Environmental for permitting and compliance. The first step in ensuring the success of this project was to properly assess the future gas flows and determine the amount of wellfield investment required to reach the project’s full potential.

At the start of due diligence, the landfill gas flow was approximately 450 scfm. After evaluating the existing wellfield, it was determined that a higher concentration of wells could be added to improve gas flows to approximately 700 scfm by the expected commissioning date in September of 2025.

Over 30 new wells were added during this time. The gas flows at time of commissioning exceeded expectations reaching approximately 800 scfm. The ability of the WAGABOX® to accept a wide variation gas composition (up to 30% nitrogen) allowed for enhanced gas capture and conversion of methane from the wellfield to injection point.

Future investment in the wellfield will also incorporate a LoCi Controls System for 36 wellheads to improve operational performance, increase methane capture, and further mitigate landfill gas emissions. The LoCi system installation is scheduled to be carried out in Q1 of 2026.

MidAmerican Energy was an exceptional partner for this project, providing a dedicated project team to carry out all electrical and gas interconnection construction on time and within budget.

All parties involved met biweekly to ensure steady progress and coordination of site planning and construction activities. This period in 2023-2024 after Covid was an uncertain time for the economy regarding inflationary pressures, and the ability for all parties to carry out project activities as expected is commendable. We were also lucky to receive mostly good weather throughout duration of project construction with less snowfall historically, and some oddly high temperatures in the summer.

The project began injecting RNG in October 2025 and was inaugurated the following month. Waga Energy, WCSC, and Linwood currently have a partnership agreement for a 20-year term.

Waga Energy now has 32 WAGABOX® units in operation worldwide with 18 under construction including 11 under construction in the United States. The WAGABOX® unit at the Scott Area Landfill is a unique and rewarding project for Waga Energy, the Waste Commission of Scott County, Linwood Mining and Minerals, and the greater Davenport community.