I wasn't sure if I should write this post or not, given that you might think I have a fixation on ... um ... poop, but I just couldn't pass it up.
You may recall that back in May, I wrote about attempts to use human urine as fertilizer. After all, human solid waste (the politically correct term is "night soil") has been used for this purpose for a long time. Well, it seems that there are endless horizons of possibilities for the re-purposing of animal wastes, as suggested by this interesting article which describes efforts to generate power from cow manure. The following chart provides a simple illustration of the concept, and is useful for those of you born in urban areas who may not be familiar with which end of the cow the manure comes out of.
I don't know about you, Dear Readers, but I think this is a marvelous discovery. Disposal of the vast amounts of animal waste generated by industrial-scale farming is a serious problem, as is the issue of managing the stench and the pollution of waterways from the waste. Wouldn't it be great if we could make use of all that manure in a way that is environmentally sound, economically beneficial, and socially conscious? You can read more about the potential of biogas recovery from manure here and here.
And need I point out the advantages of improved manure management and stench reduction during an election season?
Have a good day. And look forward to the day when all that BS might actually be useful.
More thoughts tomorrow.
Bilbo
* At least, until the GOP manages to kill it. Because who needs job-killing stuff like clean air and water, anyhow?
6 comments:
I think it's a great idea! Especially when you note the stench of a pig farm!
Sounds like a wonderful idea, but don't they have to figure out how to control the methane gas that comes before the poo?
Now that's going green that I like
"What a bunch of night soil!" doesn't have quite the same impact.
Very interesting. I wonder how many resources will be used to stop this. There is big money behind the current way of doing things...
Progress is never easily accepted even though it pays off in the long run. Making power out of poo can be that!
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