Waste to Energy Industry - Essay Example

A common method of converting household waste is to convert the products into gases which is then used as the catalyst for the production of electrical energy (Khoo, 2009). One of the main benefits of using this technology is that there is an after-effect after the conversion of the waste has been completed, allowing for various chemical manufacture or as an additive to livestock feed (Khoo). This gasification process is also known generate much less air pollution and industrial residues, therefore from a community perspective, another main benefit is that it is a cleaner method of disposing of household waste.

Plasma is often used in this process and seems to be a more efficient method of converting household waste. Plasmas are “gases that have been heated to the point of ionization—meaning they are composed of charged particles such as electrons that can conduct electricity and generate tremendous amounts of heat” (Ebert, 2007, para. 2). These plasmas can melt various metals and convert chemicals through the intense heat and electricity being generated by these technological breakthroughs. Food waste, from homes and various businesses, can also be disposed of efficiently.

This is quite important as in countries like the United Kingdom, food waste makes up an entire one-third of total household rubbish (Bream, 2007). In this country, where land mass does not allow for ongoing landfill use for food waste products, there is a major benefit as it essentially allows the land to be utilized for other, more community-focused projects. The speed at which the conversion process of this household waste occurs would also seem to be a superior advantage of the technology, as this process can even change the composition of metals, plastics and chemicals in order to provide efficient energy sources.

In a landfill, the process of decomposition of these