Getting Energy from Our Food Scraps!

You’ve probably heard about composting before, but this technology goes even further!

The HORSE from Impact Bioenergy transforms table scraps into electricity and biofertilizer with zero waste involved! This portable system combines food scraps with microbes that get to work breaking down the organic material, and generating energy we can use.

Katie Herzog from PBS ReInventors visited one of these HORSEs to show us how it works and give us a better idea of the impact that this system can have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t56pxAcj8c

Why It Matters

Restaurants, grocery stores, and farms all have a lot of organic waste. So, just think about all of the resources that could be saved if more people are able to adopt innovations like this!

Nature is really great at turning waste into fuel. Decaying remains and plant matter fertilize, feed, and support new organisms. From fungi to kelp and mussels, there are lots of effective systems in place to clean up and recycle the planet’s natural litter. Just think of what could happen if we focus on establishing more systems that mimic what’s already happening to clean up the natural world.

The technologies and the ways we learn to produce and manage our waste could learn a lot from nature!

Let's Talk About It

  1. How could a system like the HORSE benefit a community?
  2. What are some other systems being used to manage our garbage and waste?
  3. How could your community more sustainably managing their waste?

ReInventors

ReInventors is a show that features scientists, inventors and tinkerers in the Pacific Northwest who are working to create a more sustainable future. You’ll meet folks who are reimagining the basic elements of our everyday lives – where we live, what we eat, the way we get to work.

Citations

PBS ReInventors. “How to Turn Leftovers into Electricity | ReInventors.” YouTube, PBS ReInventors, 20 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t56pxAcj8c. Accessed 25 Sept. 2018.