EARTH: Trash-to-treasure

Turning nonrecycled waste into low-carbon fuel

2012-07-31

(Press-News.org) Alexandria, VA – One man's trash is quickly becoming society's new treasure. In the August issue of EARTH Magazine, we explore how materials that were once considered garbage are now being recognized for their true potential as valuable energy resources capable of solving multiple problems at once. If successful, these "waste-to-energy" options could serve as a silver bullet – displacing fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and decreasing the amount of trash that winds up in already teeming landfills.

Although several of these options have existed for many years, harnessing energy from solid waste is practiced very sparingly in the United States. Now a research team out of the University of Texas is attempting to make one type of waste-derived fuel – solid recovered fuels (SRFs) – a more appealing alternative energy option in the U.S. Will SRFs eventually overtake coal as a primary energy source? Or will the long road ahead snuff out this potential contender? Read the story and find out.

Hungry for more? Make sure to check out the August issue of EARTH Magazine for more exciting geoscience news! Produce hydrogen from sunlight and sunblock; discover a new T. Rex relative; and learn how the early Earth was bombarded by comets and asteroids for much longer than previously thought.

###Keep up to date with the latest happenings in Earth, energy and environment news with EARTH magazine online at http://www.earthmagazine.org/. Published by the American Geosciences Institute, EARTH is your source for the science behind the headlines.

The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.

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To know a tiger is at least to start tolerating them, study shows

2012-07-31

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Rejected Alzheimer's drug shows new potential

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An avian flu that jumps from birds to mammals is killing New England's baby seals

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Most with celiac disease unaware of it, others go gluten-free without diagnosis

2012-07-31

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New University of Houston research focuses on treatment for perpetrator, not victim

2012-07-31

A new UH experiment takes an unconventional look at the treatment for domestic violence, otherwise known as intimate partner violence (IPV), by focusing on changing the perpetrators' psychological abuse during arguments rather than addressing his sexist beliefs. "There is a lot of research that studies the victim of intimate partner violence, but not the perpetrator," said Julia Babcock, department of psychology and co-director of the Center for Couples Therapy, a clinical research center at UH that offers therapy for couples. "The predominant model for IPV intervention ...

Never again a flat vehicle battery: RUB researchers develop early warning system

2012-07-31

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Anxiety and depression increase risk of sick leave

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Ecosystems reveal radiation secrets

2012-07-31

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Adolescents in substance abuse treatment report using someone else's medical marijuana

2012-07-31

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15,800-year-old engraved plaquettes from modern-day Germany depict fishing techniques, including the use of nets, not previously known in the Upper Paleolithic

EARTH: Trash-to-treasure

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