Waste-to-Energy

Waste-to-energy is an alternative method for producing electricity. Waste- to- energy is the process of creating energy in the form of electricity or heat, from the incineration of waste source. Waste-to-energy is a form of energy recovery. It produces electricity directly through combustion, or productive combustible fuel commodity, such as methane, methanol, ethanol or synthetic fuels. Waste-to- energy solutions raise questions about rather; burning waste is the most efficient and safe use of trash?

Currently, there are thirty-one states that use waste- to-energy plants as their main supplier of energy, Minnesota included. MPR News reports “County wants to burn more garbage at Minneapolis incinerator”. Approval is needed from city council for Hennepin County to burn ten- twenty percent more trash to produce electricity. Current neighbors are worried about pollution from waste-to-energy plants being bad for their health. Stephanie Hemphill, of Minnesota Public Radio raises questions about weather “burning waste—even to produce electricity—is not the best thing to do with it”.

In the heart of Minneapolis sits newly constructed Twins ballpark. Hennepin county waste-to-energy plant is just northwest of the Twin’s ballpark. For twenty plus years HERC has been burning one thousand tons of garbage a day and producing electricity and steam heat for Xcel Energy and surrounding buildings. Inside HERC’s plant is a forty-foot canyon, where garbage trucks and bobcats push a mixture of wet and dry trash into a gravity pit. Giant claws feed all the trash into a huge furnace. Two thirds of the waste is paper, cardboard, and other combustible material.

This article presents great arguments, but only one side of the story is being told. The headline of this story is weather Minneapolis waste- to-energy plant should be approved to burn ten to twenty percent more trash. Hemphill provides a bias that displays a negative outlook on garbage burning. An example she uses is “…In 1999, the plant put out almost nine times its limit for hydrogen chloride, a corrosive gas”. With this quote, Hemphill is reaching her audience by appealing to their ethos. Values and beliefs are used to help followers relate this situation to their immediate lives. She takes factual evidence and supports them with opinions of her own, not credible sources.

Also, another interesting theme, is about the HERC plants producing smog. Hemphill states “The plant emits 500 tons a year of nitrogen oxides, or NOX. These are precursors to smog, which is harmful to children, the elderly, and people with lung and heart conditions”. Once again, Hemphill is reaching her audience by appealing towards their values and beliefs and basic knowledge of gases. Burning trash does contribute to air pollution, but there are other external factors that contribute to air pollution. Other external factors are cars, trucks, buses, and humans. Living and breathing humans contribute to greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation and cause global warning and climate change. Carbon dioxide is released into the air by human’s breathing. Carbon dioxide is also released by motor vehicles that used daily. If we are complaining about power plants emitting gases into the air, we need to focus on developing alternative methods for driving. Air quality value can be measured on a scale of 0-300. This scale rates air pollution by color and number with each category indicating safe or harmful air emittions. Studies indicate as of March 16, 2010, Minnesota air quality value is 54/ Green/ Moderate. Which means air quality is safe.

Burning trash may not be the best way to improve the earth. Further research is needed in order to understand what harmful side effects burning trash may cause. Burning trash is an alternative for producing energy, but in order to reduce greenhouse gases more recycling, reducing and re-using is the most efficient route.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/16/herc_burner/