Four Fascinating Ways to Turn Trash Into Fuel | World Wide Waste | Insider Business

Business Insider・2 minutes read

Entrepreneurs globally are repurposing food waste as fuel, with examples in Argentina, Indonesia, and Sierra Leone; biogas from food waste is being used as an alternative energy source, reducing methane emissions from landfills and benefiting farmers with fertilizer production. Indonesia has seen significant growth in biogas plants, with government-funded initiatives and a focus on utilizing tofu waste, highlighting the potential of small biogas plants in transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

Insights

  • Entrepreneurs globally are repurposing food waste into alternative fuel sources like biogas, reducing methane emissions from landfills and providing sustainable energy solutions.
  • Indonesia's extensive use of biogas from organic waste, especially tofu runoff, showcases a significant opportunity for sustainable energy growth, with government-funded projects and community-owned plants leading the way in transitioning towards cleaner energy sources.

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Recent questions

  • How is food waste repurposed as fuel?

    Food waste is shredded, processed in digesters to produce methane and carbon dioxide, which is then used as biogas for fuel.

  • What environmental benefits does biogas from food waste provide?

    Biogas from food waste helps reduce methane emissions from landfills, offering an alternative energy source and reducing environmental impact.

  • Who are some entrepreneurs innovating with food waste?

    Entrepreneurs like Alhaji Saraj Ba in Sierra Leone and Jose Alberto Ardenberry in Argentina are repurposing food waste to create alternative fuel sources, aiming to reduce deforestation and waste while generating income.

  • How does Indonesia utilize tofu waste for energy?

    Indonesia converts runoff from tofu factories into biogas for gas stoves, with nearly 50,000 biogas plants constructed in the last 40 years, offering growth opportunities and cleaner energy sources.

  • What additional benefits does biogas production offer?

    Biogas production not only provides an alternative energy source but also produces fertilizer, benefiting farmers, improving crop quality, and offering a sustainable solution for organic waste management.

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Summary

00:00

"Repurposing Food Waste for Sustainable Energy"

  • 1. 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted annually globally, prompting entrepreneurs to repurpose food waste as fuel.
  • 2. In Argentina, waste from a Cider Mill is transformed into "biologs" for barbecues.
  • 3. In Indonesia, runoff from tofu factories is converted into biogas for gas stoves.
  • 4. In Sierra Leone, coconut shells are turned into briquettes for fuel.
  • 5. At Bowenpali market in Hyderabad, 10 tons of unsold food daily are converted into electricity for various uses.
  • 6. The food waste is shredded, broken down further, and processed in digesters to produce methane and carbon dioxide.
  • 7. Biogas from food waste helps reduce methane emissions from landfills, providing an alternative energy source.
  • 8. The biogas plant at Bowenpali also produces fertilizer, benefiting farmers and improving crop quality.
  • 9. Biogas can be made from various organic materials, offering a sustainable energy source.
  • 10. Entrepreneurs like Alhaji Saraj Ba in Sierra Leone and Jose Alberto Ardenberry in Argentina are innovating with food waste to create alternative fuel sources, aiming to reduce deforestation and waste while generating income.

24:10

Indonesia's Biogas Plants: Clean Energy Solution

  • Indonesia has constructed nearly 50,000 biogas plants in the last 40 years, with some funded by the government, like a community-owned plant providing biogas for 56 households; larger plants convert biogas into electricity. The country's high demand for tofu waste offers growth opportunities, with one household using biogas from tofu waste for cooking, although the process requires daily generation, collection, and fermentation of tofu wastewater. Despite limited hours due to factory schedules, biogas from the plant serves homes in the mornings and afternoons, as Indonesia faces challenges in expanding natural gas access across its 17,000 islands. At the G20 Summit, $20 billion was pledged to help Indonesia transition from coal to cleaner energy sources, with small biogas plants potentially playing a significant role in this shift.
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