Quote:
Originally Posted by fdpaq0580
Good, but not perfect.
Several searches noted that trash to energy systems reduce landfill by around 90% from what was brought in. The ash that goes into the ground contains materials no longer recyclable (glass, metals, etc) along with various toxins, heavy metals and microplastics. The steam and gasses that goes into the air contains CO2, nitrogen, and other greenhouse gasses, toxins, ash and microplastics.
So, good, but not perfect. And it's expensive to build and operate.
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The metals are removed during the process, before the ash is contained and brought to the landfill. Glass is silica - the same material as beach sand. Beach sand isn't recyclable either but no one seems to object to it. Maybe because it's glass, in the form of beach sand rather than glass, in the form of microparticles of burned sand? The steam and gasses do NOT go into the air. That's the point of a closed system. The steam and gasses go through pipes, becoming energy, and used to power the system.