Converting Garbage Into Usable Energy By Samantha Lee, Chris Han, & Michelle Jong

Currently…  We collect approximately 1.76 million tons of trash each year from the island of Oahu  We have two landfills on the island – Nanakuli & Waimanalo Gulch  All trash is recycled in some way  We collect approximately 1.76 million tons of trash each year from the island of Oahu  We have two landfills on the island – Nanakuli & Waimanalo Gulch  All trash is recycled in some way

H-Power  Who/when/why: A program devised since the 1987 to help Oahu reduce its trash and dependency on oil  What/how? Reduces the volume of trash by 90% & produces 7% of the islands electricity through combustion in water-cooled furnaces at over 1800˚F  Who/when/why: A program devised since the 1987 to help Oahu reduce its trash and dependency on oil  What/how? Reduces the volume of trash by 90% & produces 7% of the islands electricity through combustion in water-cooled furnaces at over 1800˚F

The Issue  Waimanalo Gulch is closing on May 1 st, 2008  Many different interests & ideas involved  Sierra club (Recycling curb bill)/Ko Olina resort (Location)  Ship off island / Increase H- power / Choose a new site  Waimanalo Gulch is closing on May 1 st, 2008  Many different interests & ideas involved  Sierra club (Recycling curb bill)/Ko Olina resort (Location)  Ship off island / Increase H- power / Choose a new site

Plasma Converter  Inventor: Joseph Longo  Bristol, Connecticut  Plasma gasification- 30,000°F plasma disintegrates trash  Produces obsidian-like glass and “syngas”  Forms of energy: usable fuel and electricity  Inventor: Joseph Longo  Bristol, Connecticut  Plasma gasification- 30,000°F plasma disintegrates trash  Produces obsidian-like glass and “syngas”  Forms of energy: usable fuel and electricity

Facts About Plasma Converter  Cost: $250 million  2,000 tons of waste daily  Covers 1,000,000 people  Can sell “syngas” and surplus electricity  No more tipping fee for landfill ($35 per ton)  No smoke, ash, or pollution  Cost: $250 million  2,000 tons of waste daily  Covers 1,000,000 people  Can sell “syngas” and surplus electricity  No more tipping fee for landfill ($35 per ton)  No smoke, ash, or pollution

Background  Americans produce about 4.5 pounds of garbage per person each day  50% of America’s waste is put into landfills  US landfills contribute a third of all methane emissions worldwide  Methane is 20 times stronger than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas  As of 2005, 396 landfills collected methane gas for energy  Landfill gas is about 50% methane

How it Works  Methane is made when garbage decomposes without oxygen  Extracted by the pipes or wells in the landfill  Goes to a purification plant to filter out small particles and water (water-less gas is easier to transport and burn)  After purification gas is sent to wherever it is used  Gas is burned to make steam to turn turbines, making electricity  Methane is made when garbage decomposes without oxygen  Extracted by the pipes or wells in the landfill  Goes to a purification plant to filter out small particles and water (water-less gas is easier to transport and burn)  After purification gas is sent to wherever it is used  Gas is burned to make steam to turn turbines, making electricity

Advantages & Disadvantages  Coal is still cheaper  Building pipelines to carry methane is expensive  Taking away the gas controls odor problems for residents  Using methane reduces greenhouse gas, helps the ozone (examples: NASA, Interface Flooring, Waverly)  Coal is still cheaper  Building pipelines to carry methane is expensive  Taking away the gas controls odor problems for residents  Using methane reduces greenhouse gas, helps the ozone (examples: NASA, Interface Flooring, Waverly)

Bibliography “Pile of Garbage to Pile of Cash?” Sci-Tech. 13 July CBS News. 20 March  Graham-Rowe, Duncan. “Making the Best of Garbage Gas.” The World’s No.1 Science and Technology News. March March  Chen, Daniela. “Converting Trash Gas into Energy Gold.” 5 March CNN. 20 March  “NASA Warms Up to Maryland’s Trash.” 8 May NASA. 20 March    - waimanalo Gulch landfill closes  - Debate for new landfill site  - Incinerator website  - where our trash goes “Pile of Garbage to Pile of Cash?” Sci-Tech. 13 July CBS News. 20 March  Graham-Rowe, Duncan. “Making the Best of Garbage Gas.” The World’s No.1 Science and Technology News. March March  Chen, Daniela. “Converting Trash Gas into Energy Gold.” 5 March CNN. 20 March  “NASA Warms Up to Maryland’s Trash.” 8 May NASA. 20 March    - waimanalo Gulch landfill closes  - Debate for new landfill site  - Incinerator website  - where our trash goes