Microsoft plans to bury 4.9 million tons of manure to help balance the carbon emissions caused by its AI energy use

In an unconventional but serious move toward its climate goals, Microsoft has partnered with Vaulted Deep to bury millions of tons of organic waste (mainly manure, sewage, and agricultural byproducts) deep underground. Over the next 12 years, they’ll be buying carbon removal credits for 4.9 million metric tons of CO2 captured this way.

Microsoft is using organic waste to cut carbon emissions

According to The Wall Street Journal article, the waste is turned into a thick slurry and pumped about 5,000 feet underground, where it’s safely locked away instead of releasing carbon and methane into the air. Normally, this kind of waste would be burned, spread on fields, or dumped in landfills, but Vaulted Deep is giving it a new, climate-friendly purpose.

Source: Vaulted Deep

Right now, their Kansas facility handles around 50,000 tons a year, and they’re already working on expanding to more sites in Colorado and along the East Coast. Compared to expensive high-tech carbon capture methods, this approach is simpler and more affordable.

While financial terms weren’t disclosed, similar credits have sold for $350–$380 per ton, suggesting the deal could be worth well over $1.7 billion. With Microsoft’s AI and cloud growth driving a 168% jump in energy use, and a 23.4% rise in emissions since 2020, this project is a key part of its plan to go carbon negative by 2030.

• Microsoft
• AI / Artificial Intelligence