Apr 23 2009
Trash Is Turning Into Key Power Source - Methane Never Runs Out
By The Associated Press“It’s like you’re buying back your own garbage, but in a different form,” said Tom Marturano, director of solid waste and natural resources for the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, which owns and operates the 1-E site.”“Nationwide, the federal Environmental Protection Agency counts 455 landfills that use their methane to generate electricity and has targeted more than 500 more as potential candidates through its Landfill Methane Outreach Program.”“Methane gas is produced by microorganisms that feed on organic matter in trash. The bacteria are not picky eaters and have adapted to feasting on wood, cardboard or plastic if food waste isn’t available.” “One of New Jersey’s leading environmentalists envisions the state’s landfills someday making more use of their sites by installing wind and solar power to supplement methane.”“We see landfills as potential New Age energy plants, because you can combine all three and create a steady source of power - and not everybody wants a windmill in their back yard,” said Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club.”I think wind farms are a great idea, especially in parts of the world where there’s constant winds. Instead of making them white, why not green so they blend in with the trees? Maybe a bit of reflection of white on the top of it. It’s good to know that methane gas is here to stay for hundreds of years, we will never run out of energy from it. However we need to address the issues of the “new garbage” it will only go so far and we don’t need hundreds of acres of garbage to produce methane or do we? It’s good to explore other technologies like CWT - Changing World Technologies, they take the trash and make it into gasoline or oil. We need to find different ways to create new technologies. I guess the movie back to the future wasn’t too far off when the professor puts garbage in the car and it turns into fuel. We all thought it a cool idea at the time and here we are now seeing it being processed in Philadelphia at a plant! That’s the great thing about movies, they show you future gadgets and inventions that are currently in the works. Intelligent way of marketing if you ask me.
