In Seneca, Cayuga and Ontario counties, garbage companies are proposing or already burning methane (CH4) to produce electricity or diesel, gas, etc., from the garbage by Germany's WW II method which involved the open burning of fossil fuel. This method ejects CO2 directly into the air. Also methane is 20 times more dangerous to our air than CO2.

There is another method that does not involve burning and is 100 percent pollution free. It is called “plasma gasification” and it can use all the garbage in garbage mountains. In time those mountains will be gone. Explanation to follow.

How? Plasma gasification takes place in a 100 percent sealed container filled with air. Two 650 volt electrodes rip the electrons from the air, converting the air into a 30,000 degree F. plasma. The radiant energy from the plasma arc is so powerful that it disintegrates the garbage into its constituent elements by tearing apart its molecular bonds. It was first used by the army in 1997 to destroy its toxic material. It has so been proven.

This process produces a glasslike material (sealed?) and a syngas. Mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen. (Other gases or mercury can be easily filtered out.) The remaining syngas can be converted into gasoline, diesel, etc., including unlimited hydrogen.

The plasma converter draws its power from the local grid to get started. Once started, the heat energy from the plasma is used to run a separate steam turbine to produce electricity that is more than required to run the plasma converter and will run it continuously as long as trash is fed to the converter. At that point, it self sustains. The excess electricity is sold back to the grid.

An amazing fact. Plasma gasification is completely circular. It takes garbage as its fundamental components back to its original elements where it all started. My opinion. It's green.

Consult March 2007 Popular Science for details and the name of companies involved.

Harry Pettingill Jr.

Seneca Falls