At the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, we treat over 1 BILLION gallons of wastewater every single day! And we foresee a future where we will fulfill this critical function AND turn what we now think of as “waste” into a resource.
Just like your stomach processes food to produce energy for your body, we have giant mechanical stomachs that digest NYC’s waste and turn it into:
Foods scraps that go to landfills decompose and release methane (a potent greenhouse gas). The good news is that our giant mechanical stomachs can digest the organic materials in wastewater AND in processed food scraps! It’s called “codigestion.” By digesting food scraps, we’re capturing more energy AND reducing greenhouse gas emissions!
Read more about Closing the Loop: When Wastewater Treatment Becomes Resource Recovery.