City sustainability from waste

Waste management poses a challenge and unusual opportunity for making cities sustainable. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (US) points out that wastewater treatment uses 3% of electric power generated in the US. By applying anaerobic digestion to biosolids combined with food and food processing wastes, 6% of US electric power needs can be generated. The Blue Plains plant serving the Washington DC area is an example that is now the largest electric power user in the DC area. As the biodigesters now in place are phased in with food waste added, they will become a major generator and rate payers in the DC area will get lower water treatment bills! Food waste is the largest segment of the US solid waste stream still going to landfills where methane is generated. No organic material, no methane from landfills! Pioneers in harnessing the power of a million microorganisms per square inch are powering municipal truck fleets with natural gas from anaerobic digesters. Natural gas from waste means natural gas in the ground can stay in the ground. Opportunities that pay for themselves, reduce methane from landfills, generate renewablw electricity, and leave a digestate that can help soils to retain water, promote healthy plant root growth, reduce runoff, and enable soils to store carbon can't be all bad.City sustainability from waste