Today I visited the largest BIOGAS plant in the world! The landfill is called the Bandeirantes Landfill, and yes, you heard me, biogas, as in; they syphon out the methane that is naturally expelled by landfills and harness it in a power plant! Thereby reducing the methane gas expelled into the atmosphere (a warming gas that is 20 times more harmful than CO2) and simultaneously generating power that is added to Sâo Paulo´s electric grid and used to power the city.
A student/supervisor named Caio, a student of environmental engineering, supplied us with tons of information as we toured the power plant situated at the top of the largest landfill in Sao Paulo (38 million tons of waste). Caio described the network of pipes that suck the methane gas out of the landfill (actual dumping was ended in 2006 but the site still has enough organic matter to continue producing methane for the next 30 or more years) and transform it into electricity. Throughout the day, I could not stop thinking about the methane produced by landfills around the world--i.e. freshkills in new york city--that have none of these clever catchment systems--and how much damage they are doing to our environment, both local and global).
The most interesting part was arbitrarily choosing the only restaurant in the area that serves up both delicious Brazilian dishes and a dose of history as well! We happened upon this place without any intentions of further research but succeeded in procuring an interview with a community organizer who shared the other side with us. The main company funding the power plant, Biogas, supposedly shares half of the profits with the municipality of Sao Paulo for re-investment in the local community. The man we talked to, a community leader named Mario, revealed the reality that none of the money promised to the community from the economic success of the power plant has actually been seen by community members. That is a whopping 38 million R$ (about 20 million dollars)!!! At that point, I didn´t feel like Erin Axelrod anymore, but Brockovich, tumbling her way into a mess of corporate irresponsibility. The landfill site, originally chosen because it was far away from people, has urbanized (in the same way as the "protected" rainforest around SP has) and is thus surrounded by informal housing. The pollutants from the landfill have been affecting these human habitations for years and years. The Biogas plant helps to suck out harmful methane from the air, but there is so much more that needs to be done!
In any case, our day today was enlightening and inspiring. I couldn´t help the thought from springing into my mind: Possible THESIS topic yay!!! I´m sure I will find many more interesting topics in the months to come. I´ve just started a book called Cradle to Cradle that is fascinating too, and I went to my first YOGA CLASS in Brazil!!
I can´t help but think that people are on to something when they focus on designing a better world altogether rather than just fixing symptoms. To think that any one thing can solve our problems is a joke. We need careful planning and design now to keep us on the right track. Even this landfill, performing such creative reuse of a toxic material, has so many undeniable imperfections.
Peace and Environmental Savviness!
Erin
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