Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Energy from Garbage

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jun 15 2009 (IPS) - A biogas plant is in the works for turning carbon dioxide and methane produced by the Gramacho garbage dump into electricity. The sanitary landfill receives 7,950 tons of waste daily from the Rio metropolitan region. The project represents revenues of 210 million dollars and will prevent the emission of 75 million tons of methane — a greenhouse gas — over the next 15 years.

It is important, but does not resolve the problems of the sanitary landfill itself, which because of its location could contaminate the waters of Guanabara Bay.

“The income should be used to repair the damages caused by the dump,” but less than 30 percent is slated for that purpose, Vera Chevalier, director of the environmental group Ecomarapendi, told Tierramérica.