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Scientists develop flush-efficient toilet system that can turn waste into energy, sort before it recycles
Scientists from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University aren't keen on being wasteful -- that's why they've developed a toilet that uses 90% less water than other commodes and is capable of generating energy. Aptly named the No-Mix Vacuum Toilet, the porcelain pedestal's pot divides waste between two partitions -- one side for liquids, the other for solids -- and uses vacuum tech reminiscent of airline lavatories. Flushing solid and fluid wastes with 1 and 0.2 liters of H2O, respectively, the can will be able to route refuse to external processing facilities. Fertilizer ingredients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous would then be harvested from liquids. Similarly, methane can be coaxed from solids for conversion to electricity or as a replacement for other natural gasses. Two of the university's restrooms are slated to have the toilets installed in the near future, and the team expects the thrones to roll out worldwide within three years. [Thanks, Yuka]
Biodiesel can be harvested from leftover food, kids no longer have to clear their plates
The best dishes always contain 30 per cent fat minimum. This doesn't merely ensure a level of hearty satisfaction (Windows 7 Whopper anybody?), it also means the leftovers contain plenty of the greasy good stuff, which can be cleverly harvested and metamorphosed into biodiesel. The technology behind this process has been around for a while, but now British firm Greenergy claims it is ramping up commercial production. The firm's CEO reckons each of his new £50million ($80million) biodiesel plants will digest a sufficient volume of waste pies, fries and taramasalata to "fill out a cruise ship every year". Mmmm, pie.
Sony offers free recycling for their products
Sony announced today that 75 recycling stations around the country will accept Sony products for free. So if your PS2 finally succumbs to "disc read error" and you're moving on to the PS3, you can give your beloved console a second life somewhere else. Sony's program is better than electronics giants like Apple, Dell and Hewlett-Packard's programs because Sony partnered with trash company Waste Management Inc. which has recycle drop off centers. With those other companies you'll have to mail the item back to company -- and if you're anything like us, you probably haven't seen the inside of a post office since Daddy Bush's administration.The bad news is that the 75 stations are currently unevenly distributed across the country, with 17 in California, 19 in Minnesota, 1 in New York and none in 32 states. But hey, wait now, that's not Sony's fault. They plan to double the number of centers in a year and ultimately have a center "within 20 miles of 95 percent of the US population." Sony is just full of good PR fluff today -- oh, and don't forget, once you've got a PS3 you can help cure cancer.
Sony to establish nationwide recycling network
Sony today announced intentions to begin a national recycling program for your various unwanted or unloved electronics, imaginatively called the "Sony Take Back Recycling Program," which will begin on September 15th with 75 "eCycling" points around the country. The electronics manufacturer has partnered with Waste Management as part of the trash hauler's "Recycle America" program, and says that it hopes to grow its drop-off locations to 150 by year's end, with a spot in every state. 1.5 to 1.9 million tons of electronic waste went into landfills in 2005, and Sony hopes to curb those numbers by offering "end-of-life solutions," for products they produce. The company will also accept recyclables from other manufacturers for a fee, proving once again that Sony is only in it for the money. Just kidding.
