From a problem in the ground
to a purpose above it
Landfills have been part of the Landfill Group story since the beginning, long before it was a company name. What started as curiosity and grit became a long-term mission: turn landfill gas into reliable energy while leaving communities better than we found them.
Our roots trace back to Enerdyne Power Systems, founded in 1991. But the spark that started it all came from an unexpected phone call.
The call that changed everything
A maintenance building at a county facility had exploded when a mechanic flipped a light switch. The building sat on a closed landfill, and methane had built up beneath it.
Bill Brinker, our founder, was in the area with his brother-in-law for unrelated drilling work. The county asked them to drill relief wells to safely vent the gas.
That moment created a new question: If this gas can cause that kind of danger… could it also create value? Bill believed it could. And he went looking for a better answer than simply venting it.
Building the first generation of landfill gas projects (1991–2001)
In the early years, the work was simple in concept and challenging in execution. Projects were financed through early tax credit structures, supported by hard-earned trust, and, at times, bootstrapped by doing what it took to get the job done.
During the first decade, Enerdyne helped build approximately 20 projects across the three primary pathways for landfill gas utilization:
- Direct use to replace fossil fuels in industrial applications.
- Power generation to convert landfill gas into electricity.
- Pipeline-quality gas, the early groundwork for what would later become modern RNG development.
Learning
growing
evolving
Like many early companies in this space, the team learned fast and worked hard. The early years carried a “do what you have to do” mentality, long weeks, limited resources, and a lot of field-driven problem solving.
Over time, Landfill Group matured into a more intentional approach: family-oriented, process-driven, and focused on looking out for each other. Safety became less of a “rule set” and more of a culture, something we build, reinforce, and continuously improve.
Today, that evolution continues through dedicated safety leadership and stronger systems that support teams in the field and in the plant.
Bringing construction in-house
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the work expanded beyond development. Crews were spending more time in the field maintaining sites, solving problems, and learning what really worked, under real landfill conditions.
In 2006, that experience led to the formation of Advance One, our construction company. The goal was straightforward: bring more capability in-house so schedules were protected, quality was consistent, and field realities were accounted for earlier in the process.
The project that sparked manufacturing
In 2008, a development opportunity in Greenville County became a turning point. The project was bid as a contractor and it was underbid. What felt like a major mistake became a defining moment.
Working with the engineer of record, the team earned the ability to build a flare station internally, if it met specification. So we built it on a family farm, in a field. It met spec.
That flare station still runs today.
That experience launched the next chapter: building specialized equipment in-house. Over time, that capability became Advanced Biogas Systems (ABS), officially formed in 2012, and focused on custom biogas treatment and processing equipment.
Engineering built for the long haul
As the industry evolved and projects became more technically demanding, Landfill Group expanded again, this time into dedicated engineering.
In 2022, we branded JADE Biogas Engineering to bring industry-leading engineering to cutting-edge projects. JADE was created to help landfill owners move from concept to construction with clarity, designing systems that perform, are buildable, and deliver strong ROI long into the future.
A family of companies, built around one mission
Today, Landfill Group is a family of specialized companies united by a single purpose:
Convert biogas into clean, usable energy through a fully integrated approach development, construction, manufacturing, engineering, and operations.
From North Carolina to California, we’ve helped develop a large portfolio of landfill gas-to-energy assets and supported communities in turning a liability into an opportunity.
Want the next chapter to be your project?
If you’re planning a new RNG facility, upgrading an existing system, or looking for a partner who understands landfill gas from the field to the boardroom, we’d love to talk.