A new anaerobic digestion system will convert food that can’t be
sold or donated into biogas to power a California distribution
center. In the simplest terms, urban mining is recycling. The
broad definition is the reclaiming of compounds and elements
from products, buildings. The average lifespan of a cellphone in
the U.S. is less than two years. What happens to all the
discarded units? Linoleum flooring lasts decades and can be
safely composted or burned for energy at the end of its life.
Americans produce more than 50 million tons of e-waste, and 75%
of that ends up in landfills. Joule’s technology will allow it
to expand its Sunflow product line, which uses solar energy to
convert industrial waste CO2 into fuels. Thames Water already
spends $1.5 million a month clearing solidified grease and oil
blockages in London’s sewers. Now, that grease can help generate
electricity. Despite years of concern in the U.S. and around the
world, China still controls a monopoly on rare earth elements.
CEA and ISRI issue se