Blog Archive
Subscribe in a reader

North America’s cherished landfills threatened

Posted: August 25, 2008 at 10:32 AM CST

This just in: Innovative ethanol producers may soon start depleting North America’s burgeoning garbage dumps. Experts say there may be no stopping them from pillaging trash depositories all over the world within the next decade!

Sorry. It’s Monday, and I’m trying to have a little fun with this.

Following the big announcement this summer that Canada's largest ethanol producer, Greenfield Ethanol, and technology provider Enerkem had formed a joint venture to make cellulosic ethanol from Edmonton’s garbage, it seems the idea of turning trash into liquid fuel is no longer a space-age concept.

Just last week, solid waste authorities in Crown Point, Ind., approved a preliminary agreement with Powers Energy One, a company hoping to build an $80 million plant that would gasify trash into ethanol. The plan hasn’t received the green light yet, though, as developers still have several hurdles to clear, including a public hearing, potential changes and final approval, according to the Chicago Tribune.

At the same time, GreenTech Media reports that a number of trash-to-ethanol projects are in the works across North America, including Fulcrum BioEnergy’s plan