In developed countries, the generation of waste is over 4 pounds per person per day and a major portion of this is biodegradable. By 2020, the OECD estimated, the European Union could be generating 45% more waste than in 1995. Higher incomes lead to increased consumption and therefore more waste. More processed food industries generate an increasing amount of biodegradable wastes in a concentrated form.
The waste sector is an important contributor to climate change. CH4 produced at solid waste disposal sites contributes approximately 3–4 percent to the annual global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from solid waste disposal are expected to increase with increasing global population and GDP. Global emissions from landfills are projected to increase from 340 Tg CO2 eq in 1990 to 1500 Tg CO2 eq by 2030, and 2900 Tg CO2 eq by 2050.
The opportunity for TerraBioGen’s waste processing technology is immense. In the United States alone, 243 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) were generated in 2009. Currently approximately 15% of MSW is considered “wet organics”, the most challenging segment of waste management and which TerraBioGen has the solution.
We must reverse the trend in waste generation. This is only possible by finding attractive uses for organic wastes. At TerraBioGen, we have the solution for this pressing need.
