Article by D. Perez

Humans are doing different activities everyday including eating, travelling, making and creating new things. With these actions comes trash. There is a lot of trash that we produce in our everyday lives which is a cause of what we do. Waste management is the solution in making sure that the garbage will be properly disposed and minimize. Recycling, reusing, avoidance and incineration are some of the ways of waste management. Generating electricity from waste is one of the most productive inventions for waste management. In this process, we are not only diminishing our problems with waste but also using it in one of the most important needs that we have which is electricity. The waste materials are being processed to produce fuel to which it is being used for generating electricity to power plants, industries and even our homes.

There are different kinds of fuels that can be produced from waste which includes biodiesel, methane, ethanol and refuse-derived fuel. Biodiesel type of fuel came from waste materials like chicken feathers. Chicken feathers’ purpose seemed to be expanding because it is not just for stuffing pillows but can also be used to produce fuel. Methane fuel is what trash from landfills becomes when it is stocked for a long period of time. Wastewater can become ethanol if processed and can be used to fuel cars and provide heat for homes. Refuse derived fuel (RDF) is processed from plastics and biodegradable waste material. The trash is being collected and sorted to be processed and becomes RDF. Refuse derived fuel is processed using the shed and dehydrating process.

These fuels that came from waste are not only a great way in solving our troubles with garbage but also provide us green energy. Meaning it is safe for the environment and does not impose hazard to mankind’s health. Also, like refuse derived fuel, it can be stored longer than other fuel if densified. RDF type of fuel can also be co-fired with other kinds of fuel. There are a lot of benefits that we can get if we just know how to properly manage our waste. It is not limited to producing refuse derived fuel or biodiesel but it can also provide us different things if we will recycle it or do other innovative ways. Waste won’t be a problem if we will be able to treat it as a useful thing. Our trash will become what it is depending on how we will make it.