Creating Electricity from Garbage

April 4, 2009

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Profile America — Saturday, April 4th. Many people recognize the saying “garbage in, garbage out.” In these days of intensive search for alternative ways to create power, the words have become “garbage in, energy out,” as an increasing number of power plants burn garbage instead of fossil fuels. The first power plant in the U.S. to burn garbage was the Union Electric Company in St. Louis, Missouri, on this day in 1972. The U.S. now burns about 14 percent of its trash, compared with the 54 percent of the world leader, Denmark. Coal, natural gas and nuclear power currently generate most electricity used in the U.S. Among renewable energy sources, hydroelectric plants lead in the generation of electricity. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 3489
Museum of Solid Waste & Energy
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 903
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html