 |
|
|
Journal Gazette, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
Trash seen as energy source
Becky Manley, The Journal Gazette
Published: October 8, 2008
A Fort Wayne-based company wants to tap into Huntington's landfill waste stream, converting the trash into ultra-low-sulfur fuel oil and electricity. Trash such as tires, milk jugs and plastic bags are among the items that the company, Nature's Fuel, can convert into energy treasure, company representatives said.
Standing behind an array of trash Tuesday, Huntington Mayor Steve Updike and Nature's Fuel representatives explained the process, which would take place at a $40 million plant constructed at the city's landfill.
"It's not magic, it's science," said Bill Sinish, the company's CEO. Company officials broadly outlined the Waste To Energy conversion, saying the patented switch takes place in a low-heat, gasification process that converts, sequesters and stabilizes environmental hazards such as sulfur, chlorine and mercury. "We'll put next to nothing in the air," Sinish said.
The process will leave a small amount of residue that is sterile and stable and can be made into landscaping and building products, company officials said. Charcoal filters will reduce odors at the site, and company officials said the process poses no threat of explosion. The process does not involve incineration, officials said.
After metals are sorted from landfill waste, the remaining trash will be shredded with grinding equipment before the gasification process, which officials compared to tossing water on a hot skillet, forming a steam cloud. While the conversion process isn't a new idea, company officials said they've added new technology to the process, necessitating a flurry of pending patent requests and a certain degree of secrecy.
Company officials said each processing unit could handle 10 to 12 tons of landfill waste an hour.
All daily waste delivered to the city's landfill will be processed.
The landfill currently receives about 30,000 tons of waste annually but could accept more, according to Ann Tompkins, director of the City of Huntington Landfill.
Nature's Fuel won't ask for money from Huntington or the state, company officials said. All equity money would come from the company's private investors. When it comes to hiring, the company would hire local people, including disabled veterans, company officials said.
Company officials hope the facility is up and operating in about a year. But the project still needs a green light from the city and permits, including one from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
bmanley@jg.net
Copyright (c) 2008 The Journal Gazette
|
|
