Oil from municipal refuse: implications and potential.

Abstract

EFUSE DISPOSAL poses increasing problems for developed countries; but problems for . under-developed nations, though not apparent, will become real. In the U.K., disposal problems are becoming critical. However, it is our contention that I municipal refuse, far from being considered an embarrassment, should be considered as a valuable resource containing recyclable products of our high-technology society (e.g. metal, glass) and as a valuable source of fixed solar energy (cellulose, carbohydrate, plastics). The technology being developed in Manchester for the conversion of this organic waste, if successful, could in the long term offer the attractive ability of U.K.exported technology to produce oil from biomass on a global scale. In 1978/79, Britain disposed of 24 million tonnes of