From Garbage to Gas

Material like wood chips, garbage or crop waste may amount to more than just trash after all - a new industry selling motor fuel from waste has been catapulted into the spotlight by a solution-starved US, with the first commercial sales possible within mere months. More than 25 small plants producing the product are already in advanced planning or early operation stages.

Despite the large demand for the service, some of the latest advancements have come from small firms that may not be able to finance their projects through to completion. Many of the companies in the industry are relying on billions of dollars in government subsidies. The industry will also see legislative assistance from the government, with a bill passed last year mandating the use of 36 billion gallons of biofuels a year by 2022, less than half of which will be from corn ethanol and the rest from non-food sources.

Although large technological and financial hurdles remain, the concept would have generous rewards environmentally speaking. The fuel proposed would add very little hazardous carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.