As our culture becomes more and more environmentally conscientious, we start to worry about a slew of environmental issues, particularly = finding green energy solutions, and reducing the number of landfill projects.

By now, most people realize the harmful effects of using fossil fuels. They pollute the air, extracting them destroys the natural beauty of an environment, and they’re not renewable.

However, many don’t realize the dangers that the estimated 6,000 landfills in the U.S. pose. You see, when gas collects in a landfill, it causes pressure. This results in the gas releasing into the atmosphere and causing damage not only to the environment, but to the hygiene and safety of the landfill itself. In fact, landfills are responsible for the majority of anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States.

Although, as the old adage says, “the solution is in the problem.” It’s now possible to turn waste to energy by converting non-recyclable waste materials into useable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of process. Some such methods include combustion, gasification, pyrolization, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. These processes are referred to as “Waste to Energy.” This simultaneously reduces our dependence on fossil fuels that damage the environment, while removing landfills and the threat that they pose.

Waste to Energy plants process more than a staggering 30 million tons of trash each year, which is about 14% of America’s solid waste. These Waste to Energy plants thusly generate approximately 2,816 megawatts per hour!

Thanks to these Waste to Energy facilities, the future is looking a bit brighter, and a bit more green. If you have any questions about these Waste to Energy plants, feel free to ask in the comments. Read more.