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May 7, 2008 9:31 am US/Mountain
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Denver Zoo Plans To Make Energy Out Of Waste
DENVER (CBS4) ―
The Denver Zoo is planning a new system to turn animal waste into energy as part of a $100,000 grand from the Governor's Energy Office. The biomass gasification facility will turn the droppings and other trash into power for the newly proposed Asian Tropics exhibit.
"I think it's good that they are taking all the trash and stuff that we make and turning into a good cause," said Marisa Pacheco, a zoo visitor.
The elephants at the zoo create the most waste of any animal at the facility. The zoo as a whole generates 1,500 tons of waste ever year.
"Every day that we operate, we are bringing in material and filling up this dumpster and every couple of days it's hauled off for composting," said George Pond, vice president of planning and capitol projects.
The energy from the gasification system will heat the new Asian Tropics buildings and pump hundreds of gallons of water to the elephants.
"We are going to use gasification to create energy using elephant waste and actually our entire waste stream," said Pond. "Gasification is a high temperature controlled oxygen process to convert fuel into energy."
The zoo said the plan calls for processing 90 percent of the waste and trash created through its gasification system. That means 50 percent of the waste created will stay out of a landfill.
Other zoos and industries are watching the Denver Zoo's project to see if it is successful, meaning the project could eventually have a global environmental impact.
The Denver Zoo is working on securing additional funding for the Asian Tropics exhibit, but hopes to break ground next year.
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