Waste Resources
We waste an enormous amount of resources in our consumable society, with our once-use approach to goods eg. plastic bags, planned obsolescence of products, disposable items - takeaway containers etc. Given that plastics and aluminium are some of our largest energy consumers, this adds dramatically to our emissions.
We should be composting our green waste for natural fertiliser for our gardens, and buying quality products that are recyclable wherever possible.
Groups or individuals may wish to add a comment (Just register first) about how we can conserve our materials, create more efficient waste management systems, and carry out more recycling eg. reducing our reliance on lots of short-life energy-hungry appliances; using low embodied energy materials.
Please supply some details of what you would like to see and how it would work.
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Town energised by poo?
Waste not, want not - town first to use poo power
A GERMAN town will become the first in the world to be powered by animal waste when it launches a biogas network this year. Lunen, north of Dortmund, will use cow and horse manure and other organic material from farms to provide cheap and sustainable electricity for its 90,000 residents.
Biogas is already used around the world - it will power buses in Oslo from September - but Lunen claims to be the only town to build a dedicated biogas network.
Materials will be fed into heated tanks, where natural fermentation will break them down into methane and carbon dioxide. This biogas can then be burned to generate electricity and heat in a combined heat and power plant (CHP) before the heat is distributed through a new biogas pipeline, which is being built underground.
The plant can produce 6.8 megawatts, enough to power and heat 26,000 houses.
Peter Kindt, the director of Alfagy, which distributes CHP plants, said the Lunen network was capable of providing 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the town's heat and electricity needs.
The benefits of biogas are clear, said Mr Kindt "This sustainable technology allows local production of local power, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and fuel imports."
Mr Kindt admits that because of the smell, anyone near the Lunen CHP plant will know it is there. But he says residents will not find their living rooms scented with slurry every time they turn on the heating.
"Unlike wind or solar power, a biogas network is barely noticeable to residents," he said.
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
Unwanted bike/part donations welcome, rather than throwing them out.
Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre
Open Most Fri, & Sats 9 to 5:
Free help, workshop and tools, parts, unfixed bikes.
Cheap bikes,locks,lights,helmets & bike library
Volunteers welcome
old candles/wax
I am passionate about recycling people's old candles....parafin or beeswax, not the new gel ones. I am happy to pick them up from places in my area or at Transition Town meetings....or they can be left at my home at any time. I am happy to supply a new "recycled" candle for people with meduim/large quantities of old wax/candles.