In the News: Sweden and California, Turning Trash into Energy

Byamericorpsncccteammember

Sweden is turning its waste into energy—energy that can be used to do things like light and heat homes—by incinerating it. Currently, Sweden creates energy for around 250,000 homes and powers one-fifth of the district heating system. District heating systems distribute heat generated in a centralized location. District heating plants can provide higher efficiencies and better pollution control than localized boilers, and it is the cheapest method of cutting carbon emissions and has one of the lowest carbon footprints of all fossil generation plants.

Only 4% of Sweden’s trash goes to the landfill, meaning Sweden recycles 96% of their waste. In the United States, only about 34% of our trash is recycled—34% of about 250 million tons generated in 2010, according to the EPA. That’s roughly 165 million tons of trash that we dumped into the ocean or into landfills.

Not only are the Scandinavians hugely changing their impact on the environment, they’re helping other countries do it, too. Since the people of Sweden are running out of trash, they have begun importing around 800,000 tons of trash annually. Norway, for example, pays Sweden to take its garbage, and according to Catarina Ostlund, a senior advisor for the country’s environmental protection agency, Sweden is hoping to convince Bulgaria, Romania, and Italy to become trash exporters, as well.

Waste-to-energy plans are spreading to places like California, too. Michael Hart, President and CEO of Sierra Energy, has set up his fuel-making company in a warehouse at an old Air Force base near Sacramento. His company uses things like “bottle caps, broken glass, copper pieces, mixed plastics…walnut shells…different sorts of shredded metal that can be recovered and melted” to make synthetic gas, or syngas. The syngas can then be mad into a low-carbon diesel fuel, burned to make electricity, or converted to hydrogen for fuel cells.

Hart’s company could prove especially beneficial to companies in California. The state is in the process of passing its Global Warming Solutions Act. The act will force businesses to buy permits if they emit greenhouse gases. It will also impose an energy ceiling. With companies like Sierra Energy, companies may need to work a little harder, but their efforts will help build a greener economy.

We may be on our way to environmental sustainability with things like Sweden’s waste-to-energy program and Michael Hart’s fuel-making company. To find out how you can recycle anything from CDs to batteries to books to mattresses to car tires to clothes hangers and bricks, check out Earth 911.

Sweden is turning its waste into energy—energy that can be used to do things like light and heat homes—by incinerating it. Currently, Sweden creates energy for around 250,000 homes and powers one-fifth of the district heating system. District heating systems distribute heat generated in a centralized location. District heating plants can provide higher efficiencies and better pollution control than localized boilers, and it is the cheapest method of cutting carbon emissions and has one of the lowest carbon footprints of all fossil generation plants.

Only 4% of Sweden’s trash goes to the landfill, meaning Sweden recycles 96% of their waste. In the United States, only about 34% of our trash is recycled—34% of about 250 million tons generated in 2010, according to the EPA. That’s roughly 165 million tons of trash that we dumped into the ocean or into landfills.

Not only are the Scandinavians hugely changing their impact on the environment, they’re helping other countries do it, too. Since the people of Sweden are running out of trash, they have begun importing around 800,000 tons of trash annually. Norway, for example, pays Sweden to take its garbage, and according to Catarina Ostlund, a senior advisor for the country’s environmental protection agency, Sweden is hoping to convince Bulgaria, Romania, and Italy to become trash exporters, as well.

Waste-to-energy plans are spreading to places like California, too. Michael Hart, President and CEO of Sierra Energy, has set up his fuel-making company in a warehouse at an old Air Force base near Sacramento. His company uses things like “bottle caps, broken glass, copper pieces, mixed plastics…walnut shells…different sorts of shredded metal that can be recovered and melted” to make synthetic gas, or syngas. The syngas can then be mad into a low-carbon diesel fuel, burned to make electricity, or converted to hydrogen for fuel cells.

Hart’s company could prove especially beneficial to companies in California. The state is in the process of passing its Global Warming Solutions Act. The act will force businesses to buy permits if they emit greenhouse gases. It will also impose an energy ceiling. With companies like Sierra Energy, companies may need to work a little harder, but their efforts will help build a greener economy.

We may be on our way to environmental sustainability with things like Sweden’s waste-to-energy program and Michael Hart’s fuel-making company. To find out how you can recycle anything from CDs to batteries to books to mattresses to car tires to clothes hangers and bricks, check out Earth 911.