SAN DIEGO - Marine Corp Air Station Miramar will be using trash to go green.

It is a project that has been in the works for years and starting Thursday, the air station will turn waste from the Miramar Landfill into renewable energy by converting methane gas.

1st Lt Tyler Balzer of MCAS Miramar said it is exciting for more than one reason.

"First, it's reducing greenhouse emissions - kind of preserving San Diego's beautiful environment here - it's converting that into something we can actually use, which is also important because it will be reducing the air station's pull from the San Diego,” Balzer said.

Their effort to go green will cut their dependence on the city's energy grid in about half, which frees up more for the community.