Joseph Longo, the founder and CEO of Startech Environmental Corporation, has developed a machine that turns ordinary garbage into energy. Actually it turns the garbage into an obsidian-like glass and a synthesis gas, a mixture of primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be converted into a variety of marketable fuels, including ethanol, natural gas and hydrogen. His multi-million dollar machine can consume up to 2,000 tons a trash in one day and can pay for itself within 10 years. The secret to the machine is that once it builds up the charge to run the 30,000 degree F plasma arc, it can power itself by using the hot gas to turn a turbine.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/image/2007/02february/aea0ae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
You can see a diagram of the machine at the link posted above. It would be great if these machines could be up and running soon not only to provide cities with this new source of energy but also it would be good to get rid of landfills all together.
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This is a great idea because I personally take out my trash everyday. However, this idea can be viewed from a positive and negative perspective. It may seem that the benefits outweigh the costs but one immediate loss is a decrease in the number of jobs as many individuals who pick up and process garbage will lose their job to a machine. One can argue that jobs are available to maintain and manage these machines but there is a net loss of jobs. However, the decrease in landfills and a new source of energy may create other opportunties. You mention that the machine will pay for itself in 10 years, how does that work?
Is there a specific type of garbage that the machine can consume or any type of garbage overall? I think that if the machine does a good job with reducing the amount of waste and the cost of maintenance is relatively low there might be companies out there that would be willing to invest one. Do you know how much the machine actually cost?
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