Only 3 Percent of Trash Hits Landfills in Denmark...Where Does Their Trash Go?

Amagerforbrænding waste incineration and power plant

As a kid we had a trash incinerator in our backyard and although it was no longer permissible by the town we lived in to use the incinerator to burn household garbage, probably because individual homes burning trash in a burner without air filters created significant health concerns as it relates to particulates in the air and air pollution, I still found the trash burner in our backyard fascinating. Like an impenetrable fortress, the three foot cement tower was the focal setting for many Barbie® and Star Wars® mis-adventures and rescues.


Thus began my lifelong fascination with trash. Seems strange to be sure, but solving the problems behind how to reduce garbage (through recycling, repurposing, reduced packaging, using biodegradable materials, and buying in bulk) has, to me, always seemed like one of the most critical and fundamental elements of a sustainability plan and lifestyle.

Perhaps that is why the visit to the Amagerforbrænding waste incineration and power plant was so interesting. While the name Amagerforbraending is a mouthful for non-Danish speaking people, the name is a composite of the word forbraending, which means combustion, and the name of the island that houses the plant, called Amager.

Keep reading this article from its original source: http://www.allisonfrederick.com/files/ArticlesbyAli/Alternative_Energy_Denmark_Using_Trash.html.

About the Author: Allison Frederick writes on environmental and sustainability related issues, particularly as they relate to environmental psychology and green brand strategy.

Choosing Alternative Energy from Your Electric Company

A lot of people research global warming online but far fewer research ways to actually try minimize our daily environmental impact. Confusion over the rapidly developing green technologies, prohibitive costs, or perhaps the perceived complexity of getting started may stop people from advanced earth-friendly living.

One simple way to help support alternative energy consumption is to sign up with your local energy provider to use alternative energy for your home. You may be paying slightly more for your energy in some cases but if enough of us do it, then hopefully the prices will come down. We’ve seen this phenomenon with organic food prices. We do live in a capitalist society where consumer prices are generally driven by consumer demand (gas prices seem to be an exception lately), so eventually consumer forces could drive down the costs of alternative energy. Also, by selecting alternative energy for your own home, you not only let the energy companies know of your priorities but you also help support research in alternative energy technologies.

Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) (serving Douglas County Colorado areas) allows customers to purchase renewable energy credits and once your home is set up with the program, you do not need to worry about it again. According to the IREA website, buying renewable energy credits is a more simple, more affordable way to support green energy consumption.

Frequently asked questions about Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)

Contact your local energy company to see if they offer a similar program.

Safe Green Living

Earth Hour: Lights Out – Time to Get Romantic

Earth Hour is a global energy conservation movement where people voluntarily turn off their lights between 8 PM and 9 PM in their local time zone on Saturday, March 29th, 2008.

Other nations in the world have experienced blackouts but in the United States, that seems like a foreign concept. We might even panic – What will we do without lights or TV in the evening? Pulitzer Prize winning Indian novelist, Jhumpa Lahiri gives us an example in her short story "A Temporary Matter." She tells us a story of a husband and wife who were strained in their relationship when they were notified by the city that they would experience blackouts for several hours for several evenings in a row. Shukumar and Shoba (the characters in the story) are at a loss as to what they will do. Left with nothing else but to face each other, they begin to face the problems in their marriage by spending hours over a candlelit dinners and getting honest with themselves and each other again.

They found that they looked forward to these lights-out hours because they were not distracted by their modern lives. If you and your family and friends prepare, Earth Hour could be a fun, intimate and unusual way to spend an evening. It may even show us all that our modern lifestyle isn’t as critical as we think.

Looking for more?Video featuring the history of the Earth Hour movement which began in 2007.

Writer - Jhumpa Lahiri, "A Temporary Matter" in the collection of short stories called "Interpreter of Maladies" (1999)

Sign up for Earth Hour

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Safe Green Living

Energy-efficient Dishwashers and Washers Make a Big Difference

Are you in the market for a new dishwasher, washer, or refrigerator? If so, you may be looking for the best price and durability but why not consider purchasing an appliance that conserves energy, saves water, and has low carbon dioxide emissions?

One simple step to save money on your utilities and to start your green home remodeling project is to buy an Energy-star rated appliance.

Many LEED certified builders (LEED is a green building certification) chose Bosch home appliances for their eco-friendly buildings. Bosch has a great informational video on their website that shows the environmental impact of home dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators. I encourage you to watch this short presentation. I was amazed at what a difference something as small as buying and using energy and water efficient dishwashers could make on the environment.

Energy-star rated appliance presentation

Looking for more?

What does "Energy star rating" mean?

Information on LEED certified home building

Non-toxic, green product information

Safe Green Living

Home Remodel Project: Green Home Ideas

Green home construction utilizes construction designs, energy saving technologies, and sustainable building materials that can be overwhelming to a new green consumer.

Even if you are not ready to buy a house that is off the grid, or buy a green constructed home, you can still take steps to lower your carbon footprint by slowly replacing materials and appliances in your home with green home products and energy-saving appliances and technology.

You do not have to spend a fortune to help protect the environment and create a healthy, indoor environment for yourself and family.

Some ideas to get you started is to use energy-saving light bulbs and replace synthetic and chemically treated linens with organic bedding made of natural fibers, organic cotton, and natural dyes. Through the Safe Green Living blog, we will continue to explore affordable ways to go green. We will offer product reviews, articles, eco-philosophy and resources to get more information. Together we can go green with one choice at a time.

Safe Green Living - Just because it is earth-friendly doesn't mean it is safe for humans...