Ford-+Go+Fix+it!

Bio-digesters the way forward Landfills have been in use for centuries, and are currently the largest man-made objects now on this planet. There is a large portion of wastes heading to these areas that is not necessary to be in the landfill, such as E-waste and food wastes. Organic material that finds its way to the landfill, such as paper and table scraps, takes years to break down, due to the lack of water and oxygen needed to support microbial growth needed for decomposition. Simply removing these sources from the waste stream would reduce the waste stream could reduce the amount of material heading to landfills by twenty five to fifty percent (The Lowell Sun, 2010). There has been resent interest in turning this waste into valuable power and fertilizer, like one company in Waltham, Mass.

Most yard waste and food waste that is collected is composted, due to legislation passed in the mid 1990’s but what sets this company apart is that they want to turn the waste into power. By digesting it and producing methane gas (Kirsner, 2010). The production of methane gas would ease the burden off of coal and other fossil fuel intensive sources of energy, such as diesel. It’s possible that the large production of methane gas could possibly change gasoline consumption habits. In Europe, they offer methane gas and many furling stations to be used in cars (Aldo, Pascoli, & Luzzati, 2000). Due to methane natural abundance, and cheap cost to produce, this may be a viable source of power in the upcoming years.

Bio-digesters also create fertilizers that can be used for cultivation for both private use, and on a large scale for food production, creating a nearly self sustaining production of food. Eliminating, or at the very least severely reducing the amount of chemical fertilizers needed to sustain the current agricultural model. If large scale digesters where to be built and collect the millions of pounds of the food and yard wastes, we could produce gas for use in all current methane burning appliances and utilities. We live in a world that already uses natural gas and methane for power, and several other uses such as cooking and heating. Although methane has been widely used, it has always been derived from a single source, petroleum. I would like to be a part of creating and producing the technology of bio-digesters, in fact I am currently trying to get on a research team to conduct research in this area. I would like to see this technology take over within the next few years.

For more information:

[|The Biogas plant]

[|Biogas- wikipedia]

[|Bio-digesters for Costa Rica] = = =Bibliography= Aldo, F., Pascoli, S. D., & Luzzati, T. (2000, December 6). //Natual Gas, cars and the environment. A (relativly) 'Cclean' and cheap fuel looking for users.// Retrieved November 28, 2010, from Science Direct: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6VDY-43PGJ75-6-5&_cdi=5995&_user=659639&_pii=S0921800901001744&_origin=search&_coverDate=08%2F31%2F2001&_sk=999619997&view=c&wchp=dGLzVlb-zSkzV&md5=1da07eb00e3a54e556587cc2cd7e0af2&ie=/sdarticle.pdf

Kirsner, S. (2010, Febuary 21). //Making fuel from food waste: Waltham firm must clear hurdles before capitalizing on leftovers.// Retrieved November 27, 2010, from Boston Green Scene: http://www.bostongreenscene.net/2010/02/making-fuel-from-food-waste-waltham-firm-must-clear-hurdles-before-capitalizing-on-leftovers.html

The Lowell Sun. (2010, November 8). //It's a waste for people to waste yard waste.// Retrieved November 28, 2010, from The Lowell Sun: http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_16554425 =Photo Credits:= From upper left going clockwise. //Compost.jpg//. Digital image. //Climate Lab//. 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. . //Audi A4 Methane Car//. Digital image. //CarsBlogNews//. 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. . //Cross Section of a Biodigester System//. Digital image. //Thepigsite.com//. 2006. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. . Organic Chemistry Computer Background. Digital image. //Fotolia.com//. 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. .