Last year, the urban areas produced 2.3 billion tons of waste, which is expected to double by 2050. Experts are looking at one waste processing method as a way out of this growing problem.
Tim Clarke, the CEO of Warsan Waste Management Company, is an expert in household waste processing. He converts household trash into energy. The process starts with burning the waste, producing heat and steam. This eventually generates electricity by driving a turbine. One of the biggest facilities processes 45% of total waste from Dubai. Due to its size, it can utilize higher temperatures and pressures, reaching 34% efficiency, which is higher than normal. They produce megawatts by processing 1.9 million tons of waste a year, enough to power approximately 130,000 houses. Unlike landfills, where methane is produced unmanaged, this process recycles methane. Leftover ashes are used for building roads, while sulfur and heavy metals are filtered and taken away during the process.
On the flip side, some experts claim this process is part of the holistic ways to manage waste and combat the climate crisis. Looking at this problem from a circular ecosystem standpoint, they suggest that it should be addressed from the get-go. Most importantly, decreasing the use of plastic should be considered, such as reducing the packaging or eliminating it altogether.
*Vocabularies; holistic, standpoint, way out, from the get-go
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