Plasma gasification and pyrolysis processes allow for the virtual elimination of landfills

[madokie]

whats the downside to this I ask. dm

THE COMPLETE RECOVERY OF ENERGY FROM WASTE USING CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDING PLASMA GASIFICATION

"Changing the Way People Feel about Waste"

http://www.recoveredenergy.com/index.html

TECHNOLOGY
Recovered Energy, Inc. is an independent engineering and consulting firm dedicated to the promotion of the most current technologies for the recovery of energy from waste. In our opinion, the waste "problem" is the solution to our energy needs. We like to think of waste as an asset rather than a liability. Current technologies using plasma gasification and pyrolysis processes can convert almost any waste material into usable products such as electricity, ethanol, vitrified glass and other salable products. This is a true waste to energy system that goes way beyond the traditional incinerator and beyond standard gasification processes. We promote technology that allows for 100% conversion of waste to energy in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. green electricity. Plasma gasification and pyrolysis processes allow for the virtual elimination of landfills, recycling without sorting, the complete thermal conversion of all types of waste to energy in the form of green electricity or ethanol.

OBJECTIVE
We have spent years compiling and evaluating technologies with the following objectives.
1- Find the best way to use waste as a clean, reliable source of energy.
2- Eliminate the "waste problem" by converting 100% of the waste into a usable product.
3- Make significant reductions on the world's dependence on fossil fuels.
4- Provide a source of pure drinking water.
5- Create secure, high-wage manufacturing jobs.

[aquart]

1. Sounds lovely. What are the reasons we are not doing it?

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Probably because it's been around for years, but costs too much.

[aquart]

4. What are we doing to make it cost less?

Because that is what research is for.

[madokie]

7. thats the sixty four dollar question, why aren't we

[autorank]

2. Let the ideas and technology flow to save our world!!! K*R

Thanks!!!

[Fridays Child]

5. Every so often, I'm reminded of that thermodepolymerization process that...

...can produce oil from anything: http://discovermagazine.com/2006/apr/anything-oil

[nosmokes]

6. Their PR packet paints a pretty picture. If they can do 1/2 what they claim

on any sort of scale, and it looks like maybe they can,then these guys got something very worthwhile here.I'm gonna see if I can't get a prospectus.

[philb]

8. What do they do with the mercury. Landfills have pretty high levels of mercury, etc.

which becomes a gas and is emitted when heated. (actually vaporizing at room temperature, but all vaporizes rapidly with heating) Lots of mercury from dental amalgam from dental offices and sewer sludge goes into landfills. Plus fluorescent lights, batteries, thermostats, switches, etc. often have mercury. Mercury is a global pollutant affecting most water bodies, fish, large percentage of people, and the environment.

A high percentage of people in U.S. have dangerous levels of mercury already, according to a nationwide survey- hair tests:

Accompanying data tables by State and Metropolitan Statistical Area
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/assets/binaries/addendum-to-mercury-report
State participants no. >1.0 %> 1.0
Florida 389 130 33.4%
New York 455 183 40.2%
U.S. 6385 ____ 22%


Is the planned control for mercury some type of scrubbers or eliminating mercury from products so it doesn't get in garbage?

And what becomes of the large amounts of lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, nickel, etc.?
These would either be emitted or end up in residue.
Is the residue toxic waste?

[madokie]

9. wasn't that all addressed by capturing it all and recycling it

I believe I read there is no residue to dispose of in the end

[kestrel91316]

11. "........What do they do with the mercury?......."

Use it in industrial processes that REQUIRE mercury. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

[TheWraith]

10. I look forward to someday when we develop effective nanotech.

Landfills are a perfect example. If we developed an effective nano-robot capable of disassembling things on a microscopic level, then let it loose on a landfill, given a little time it would convert the entire pile of garbage into bricks of nice clean raw materials.

No real bearing on the technology talked about in the OP, just musing on the possible future of landfills. They could become extraordinarily valuable, someday.