U.S. Still a Long Way Behind Europe in Converting Waste into Energy

The United States is still a long way behind Europe in terms of converting waste into energy, according to a report from the New York Times. For instance, an energy plant in Horsholm, Denmark, burns huge quantities of industrial waste and household garbage for producing 20% of the electrical energy and 8% of the heat energy required for Horsholm. Currently, Denmark has 29 similar plants and has led the country to perceive garbage as an alternative, clean fuel. This trend is being followed all across Europe, as there are around 400 such plants located in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark.

However, the U.S. has just 87 waste-burning power plants. Even though a joint study conduced in 2009 by North Carolina State University and the E.P.A. concluded that waste-to-energy plants are more environmentally friendlier than landfills for non-recyclable urban waste, hindrances to their adoption in the U.S. persist.