I did notice a lack of cost estimates in this article (or more to the point time). Along with the fact they are talking about a 4-ton reactor as the next step, these researchers are looking for money for their research. I suspect that it will take at lest two years with a 4-ton reactor before going to the 100-ton reactor. Then at least two years before main production, a reactor in the 500-1000 ton range.
The next question is how much yard waste can they conveniently acquire? A typical large chip truck for residential work can carry about 5 tons.
You’d be shocked at how much is out there between wood chips, landfill waste, dead animals, food waste, pet coke, tires etc. 500 tons a day sounds like alot but we found out it isn’t really that much. The problem is finding a gasifier that will run without problems and generate enough syngas to do something with profitably.