Google has signed an agreement with organic waste processing company AMP, purchasing 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) by 2030 and joining forces on exploring methane emissions mitigation.
AMP specializes in artificial intelligence- (AI-) powered sortation systems that recover recyclable commodities and organic material from municipal solid waste (MSW). The company uses the organic waste material to create biochar, generating high-quality carbon removal credits.
As shared in the announcement, the CO2-dense biochar material generated through this partnership will initially be used as a cover for landfills, where it will serve to filter leachate, reduce odors, and help prevent methane emissions.
Moving forward, AMP intends to explore the application of its biochar product in other sectors, including construction and cement.
For AMP, the agreement with Google comes a few months after the company signed a 20-year partnership with the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia (SPSA).
The boost provided by Google will enable AMP and the SPSA to add biochar capacity to what is said to be the largest recycling project in the United States. Over the next 20 years, this recycling project is expected to be able to convert five million tons of organic waste into biochar.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), landfilled municipal solid waste is the third-largest source of human-generated methane emissions in the U.S.
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As part of the collaboration, Google and AMP will work together to establish frameworks for quantifying the methane emissions elimination achieved through waste diversion paired with biochar CDR.
Commenting on the Google partnership, AMP founder and chief technology officer Matanya Horowitz shared, “The waste industry is built to capture value from materials. With biochar, we can turn organic waste from a major source of emissions into a durable, carbon-storing asset for municipalities and waste operators.”
He added, “Together with Google, we’re helping transform one of the economy’s most emissions-intensive sectors into a force for climate impact.”
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