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At 09:12 AM 7/9/2006 -0400, Kendall Christiansen wrote: >[....] >While I know full well that food waste disposers are considered a >"third-rail" issue for some, in the U.S. they are a fact of life -- the >majority of U.S. homes have them (for decades), and installed in probably >more than 80% of new homes...with growing acceptance internationally, as >nations/states/cities struggle with how best to manage food waste and >address GHG issues. This is interesting. A couple of concerns/questions: Adding food waste to the sewer system mixes it with the metals and other toxins in the system, limiting downstream uses--as of the sludge. To the extent that the stuff is fully oxidized to CO2 in the sewer plant--presumably the plant is trying to do this to minimize oxygen demand of the effluent--I would think that the organics are largely being wasted, while contributing to climate change. To the extent that the stuff is feeding the bugs and getting incorporated into the bacterial biomass in the sludge, it would seem that the "problem" is just being moved around (with the contamination issues added). On the other hand, if the food waste is collected separately, and composted, or digested anerobically, the outcomes would seem more positive--we are getting a useful soil amendment and maybe some useful fuel gas. (Much of the carbon will still end up in the atmosphere, but maybe while doing more good along the way....). But I am only thinking about this qualitatively...would be interesting to see a real analysis of alternatives. am Alan Muller, Executive Director Green Delaware Box 69 Port Penn, DE 19731 USA (302)834-3466 fax (302)836-3005 greendel@no.address www.greendel.org --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GreenYes" group. To post to this group, send email to GreenYes@no.address To unsubscribe from this group, send email to GreenYes-unsubscribe@no.address For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- |
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