Check It Out: Ethanol from Garbage

Looks like garbage collectors may be well on their way to supporting energy independence. Yep, you read that right. While corn may be the most common source of ethanol these days--that might not be for long. According to an article in the April 2008 issue of Popular Mechanics, while researchers have been devoting considerable time and brain power to exploring other feedstocks such as cornstalks and agricultural waste for ethanol production (cellulosic ethanol), garbage is next up. Coskata is a startup biofuel company that is slated to open a pilot plant in Illinois that can apparently make ethanol from just about any carbon-rich source, for--get this--less than $1 per gallon. It's thanks to their flexible process that utilizes ethanol secreting microorganisms that can break down and digest the carbon monoxide and hydrogen that results after the feedstock is heated to a steamy 1900F. The company has plans to produce over 100 million gallons per year by 2011.

We say kudos to Coskata--it's about time someone figured out a smarter use for some of the 251 million tons of trash that America generates annually (2006 figures - according to the Environmental Protection Agency). That's more than 4.6 pounds per day, per person. Just think if some of that waste could now be turned into usable fuel ... that puts a whole new spin on making treasures from trash.

photo © Getty Images / Christopher Furlong