Disney World converts wasted food into energy

Disney World's biogas facility: a model for converting food waste into energy

Another place in the U.S. converting waste to energy is none other than Disney World. I found this to be very interesting and quite a genious idea. Millions of people visit the park every year When you think about all of the food that people throw away at the park, and all of the oil and grease they use to cool all of that delicious fried food this really just seems like it was a long time coming. 

This is the Harvest Power System at Magic Kingdom

The Harvest Power System is essentially a bunch of "digesters" that turn food waste and biosolids into biogas.

Below is a diagram of the anaerobic digesting facility in Orlanda, Florida.

This was really interesting to me and I am sure it was a very expensive inital cost, but this will be able to provide power to the park and its hotels for decades to come. Not only is food collected from the park, but area hotels and restaurants as well. 

The process seems pretty extensive, but even after it is seperated and treated the remaining solids can also be processed into fertilizer. All of the waste is being put to use and that is really a remarkably sustainable process they have developed. I would hope more places, even Six Flags over Texas would start doing this as well. 

The CEO of Harvest Power said it best, "This is our goal - pumpkins to power, waste to wealth."

CITED WORKS:

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/oct/17/disney-world-biogas-food-waste-energy-clean-tech