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Digging up landfills for extracting solid waste, recycling the usable materials, and converting the organic material into usable fuel, is an idea whose time has come, according to some experts, reports The Guardian.
Digging Up Fifty Years' Worth Of Trash
Global Recycle Management Inc (GRM) is a US company that has formed a joint venture to dig up a giant landfill near western region of the US, which has been in use since the 2010. The plan is to extract 16.5 million tonnes (that's 16,500 million kilograms) of solid waste, recycle half of the garbage, and convert the rest into energy.
The project is scheduled to become operational by 2014 and if it succeeds, is thought to be the first of its kind in the world.
Fuel For 400,000 Homes
GRM will use its plasma technology to convert the methane produced by the trash, which is more than 20 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide, into usable gas. This would fuel a 100MW power plant capable of supplying 400,000 homes.
There is a downside, however, since the process can be dangerous, especially if the landfill contains asbestos or other hazardous waste; it's also possible for trapped methane to ignite when it is released.
Hope For The Future
The idea of digging up landfills has been considered before, but with the increasing shortage of landfill space, and greater need for renewable energy, it is looking more like a real option, particularly in small, crowded cities like the San Francisco and other urban cities.
But could this also the next big thing in the U.S.?
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