The city of Sao Paulo produces, on a daily basis, 15.000 tons of waste, which turns the waste collection and disposal service into a major challenge for the environmental management in the city. The waste was formerly taken to two of the largest landfills of the world: Bandeirantes landfill, located at km 26 of Bandeirantes Highway in the northern zone, and Sao Joao landfill, located in the eastern zone of the city. Each of them had a maximum capacity of approximately 25 million tons and have been disabled and covered after reaching this limit in 2005 and 2007, respectively. The methane produced used to be transported through subterranean piping and burned in furnaces.

Since the disabling of both landfills, thermoelectric power plants have been installed. By capturing and burning the methane gas, they generate the equivalent to 7% of the electricity consumed in the city. Therefore, the produced methane, previously only burned, now generates more than 175,000 MW/h in each power plant, enough to supply a 700,000 population.

The thermoelectric power plant in Sao Joao landfill was installed at the beginning of 2008 and comprises a 270,000 square meters preservation area, which is used by public schools students in monitored visits and recycling and preservation classes through a project called “Ver de Perto” (Take a Closer Look), developed by the company that manages the landfill.
Both projects are among the five largest CDM approved programs on greenhouse effect gases emission control through waste management. Besides the mitigation of greenhouse gases emission by biogas energy generation, the landfills projects also intend to revitalize the surroundings areas bringing a better quality of life for the local population.