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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. Bibliography “Pile of Garbage to Pile of Cash?” Sci-Tech. 13 July 2005. CBS News. 20 March 2007. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/13/tech/main708741.shtml http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/13/tech/main708741.shtml  Graham-Rowe, Duncan. “Making the Best of Garbage Gas.” The World’s No.1 Science and Technology News. March 2005. 20 March 2007. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7048 http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7048  Chen, Daniela. “Converting Trash Gas into Energy Gold.” 5 March 2006. CNN. 20 March 2007. http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/05/05/landfill.gas/index.html?section=cnn_latest http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/05/05/landfill.gas/index.html?section=cnn_latest  “NASA Warms Up to Maryland’s Trash.” 8 May 2003. NASA. 20 March 2007. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/0508landfill. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/0508landfill.  http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html  http://www.hawaiisenergyfuture.com/Articles/Garbage_To_Energy.html http://www.hawaiisenergyfuture.com/Articles/Garbage_To_Energy.html  http://starbulletin.com/2006/02/16/news/story01.html - waimanalo Gulch landfill closes http://starbulletin.com/2006/02/16/news/story01.html  http://starbulletin.com/2004/11/14/news/story2.html - Debate for new landfill site http://starbulletin.com/2004/11/14/news/story2.html  http://www.honoluluhpower.com/About.asp - Incinerator website http://www.honoluluhpower.com/About.asp  http://envhonolulu.org/solid_waste/archive/How_our_City_manages_our_waste.html - where our trash goes http://envhonolulu.org/solid_waste/archive/How_our_City_manages_our_waste.html “Pile of Garbage to Pile of Cash?” Sci-Tech. 13 July 2005. CBS News. 20 March 2007. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/13/tech/main708741.shtml http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/13/tech/main708741.shtml  Graham-Rowe, Duncan. “Making the Best of Garbage Gas.” The World’s No.1 Science and Technology News. March 2005. 20 March 2007. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7048 http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7048  Chen, Daniela. “Converting Trash Gas into Energy Gold.” 5 March 2006. CNN. 20 March 2007. http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/05/05/landfill.gas/index.html?section=cnn_latest http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/05/05/landfill.gas/index.html?section=cnn_latest  “NASA Warms Up to Maryland’s Trash.” 8 May 2003. NASA. 20 March 2007. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/0508landfill. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/0508landfill.  http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html  http://www.hawaiisenergyfuture.com/Articles/Garbage_To_Energy.html http://www.hawaiisenergyfuture.com/Articles/Garbage_To_Energy.html  http://starbulletin.com/2006/02/16/news/story01.html - waimanalo Gulch landfill closes http://starbulletin.com/2006/02/16/news/story01.html  http://starbulletin.com/2004/11/14/news/story2.html - Debate for new landfill site http://starbulletin.com/2004/11/14/news/story2.html  http://www.honoluluhpower.com/About.asp - Incinerator website http://www.honoluluhpower.com/About.asp  http://envhonolulu.org/solid_waste/archive/How_our_City_manages_our_waste.html - where our trash goes http://envhonolulu.org/solid_waste/archive/How_our_City_manages_our_waste.html