Waste Not

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The price of oil may have finally gotten high enough.

The New York Times reports that motor fuel made from waste is now getting a big push in the US — with gasoline at over $4 a gallon — even though scientists have known for decades that it was possible to convert waste to fuel.

Oil had been so cheap there was little incentive to pursue the idea. But now, about 28 small plants are in the planning or construction phases, and commercial sales from this new type of fuel could be possible within months.

The article warns that though the idea is receiving attention, it is not a sure thing. Many of the interested parties are small companies without big funds, and there are huge technological hurdles that still need to be overcome.

But industry bigwigs such as Honeywell, GM and Shell are getting involved, and Silicon Valley venture capitalists are investing.

With the soaring cost of oil, and the rising price of food, there is focused attention on finding a fuel source that does not come from oil or food.

The article explains that virtually any material containing hydrogen, carbon and oxygen could be turned into motor fuel, including plastics, construction debris, forest and lawn trimmings, wood chips, wheat straw and other types of agricultural waste.

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