New York’s ‘Food Recycling’ Program Could Be The Future Of Waste And Energy

[ScienceRocks]

New York’s ‘Food Recycling’ Program Could Be The Future Of Waste And Energy

By Annie-Rose Strasser on Jun 17, 2013 at 3:25 pm

New Yorkers’ food scraps will soon be turned into electricity, thanks to a new initiative announced Sunday by the office of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The new “food recycling” program will call for the construction of a composting facility in the New York region to take 100,000 tons of food waste a year — just one tenth of the total one million pounds created by New York residents annually. Compost will be turned into biogas, with the express purpose of helping the city lower its electric bill.

The launch of the program will be voluntary, and city officials estimate that 150,000 homes will take part, along with 600 schools and 100 high-rise buildings, the New York Times reports. By 2015 or 2016, however, officials hope to have the whole city on board.

The program will be hugely beneficial for New Yorkers’ wallets. Just days ago, a report found that Americans throw out 40 percent of their food. That waste amounts to $400 per person annually.

New York's 'Food Recycling' Program Could Be The Future Of Waste And Energy | ThinkProgress

A voluntary program turning food waste into energy is a good idea.

 

[Katzndogz]

Voluntary programs will soon become mandatory programs. In a city the size and topography of New York it will be a complete disaster. There will be disease and vermin infestations rivaling the London plague.

 

[mike.redd1266]

I can only imagine how bad the smell will be given NYC doesn't currently smell fantastic. There's no way this will get approved.

 

[ScienceRocks]

It already has been approved.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Voluntary programs will soon become mandatory programs. In a city the size and topography of New York it will be a complete disaster. There will be disease and vermin infestations rivaling the London plague.

First it's Voluntary then it's Mandatory with Fines for Non-Compliance.