Organic-waste Energy-recovery System

On January 14 a group of five Japanese companies announced the development of an organic-waste system for generating methane gas from garbage. The system is said to feature:
(1) removal of more than 95 percent of waste that cannot produce methane before beginning fermentation and
(2) use of pressure produced in the generation process to power its fermentation tank agitator. The companies say that the system can also recycle plastic waste as solid fuel.

The system is described as incorporating a waste separator, fermentation and storage tanks, and a boiler. The companies claim that the system can generate in excess of 15,000 cubic feet of methane from one ton of organic waste and more than 10,000 cubic feet from one ton of waste sludge.

The five companies comprise Mitsui Mining Co., Sanki Engineering Co., Niigata Engineering Co., Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha Ltd., and Asano Engineering Co.