What are Biofuels? July 14, 2016 Biofuels are fuels made from renewable sources such as ethanol from corn or biodiesel from used fats and oils. These fuels produce fewer carbon emissions like conventional petroleum from fossil fuels. Though biofuels come from a variety of different sources, these fuels are generally developed through chemical reactions, fermentation, and heat to break down the sugars and starches in the plant matter, the remains are then refined into biofuel. The use of biofuels in motor vehicles isn’t a new…

What is Biogas? July 14, 2016 Biogas is a by-product of a process called Anaerobic Digestion. In this system, biodegradable refuse (municipal solid waste, food waste, fats, and oils) is collected into an air tight container to be broken down by a variety of microorganisms to become a methane-rich gas that can be used as an alternative to natural gas. The use of biogas as a form of energy dates back to the tenth century BC within Assyria where it was used to heat bath…

What is Abatement? July 7, 2016 Abatement is reducing or eliminating the amount of refuse arriving in landfills through practices such as recycling or source reduction. This action is also used in the removal of hazardous materials such as asbestos or lead to prevent any short or long term issues that may affect humans or animals. The main idea of abatement is finding alternative ways to remove refuse from the landfill or causing serious harm to all organisms. Recycling and source reduction are great applications…

What is Accretion? July 11, 2016 Accretion is the accumulation of sand or land mass over time along coastal regions. This occurs through a combination of ocean currents and the movement of oceanic and continental plates, or through human activity. Naturally, sand builds up in areas from the movement of water currents and tectonic plates, forming mounds. Accretion has benefited humans in extending land out from shorelines and being able to make more land for human activity and living. This has also posed a problem;…

What is an Aerated Static Pile or ASP Composting? July 7, 2016 Aerated Static Pile – or ASP Composting – is a form of organic composting used by farms in dealing with large volumes of livestock manure and animal feedstock. It has also proven useful among municipalities and communities in addressing compostable municipal solid waste items like food waste or yard debris. In this system, pipes are placed underneath with a blower attached to push and pull air through the mound of organics. These pipes…