Vincent Vigliotti came up with the genius idea of turning food waste into renewable energy. A place such as Manhattan, which is the producer of over a million tons of waste annually, would benefit heavily from using that waste as energy. The process uses anaerobic digestion, which separates the sewage from fertilizer and biogas, which are generally the two components that get used for energy. Vigliotti does this process by trapping the wastes in an airtight location (such as a silo, which is referenced in the article.) But where does the waste come from? According to Vigliotti, it can come from just about any food source the average individual can think of, like grease from the grill or even plate scrapings.
Vigliotti signed with 6 companies in the city to collect the wastes contained in trash from the sidewalks. The trash is sent to compost facilities where the biogas can be pulled from the sewage. The renewable energy ends up being used for heating or electricity. The article also states that Vigliotti is constructing a plant in Yaphank, the town of his residence. In addition to the already large list of things that American families are asked to separate from their trash, such as bottles, paper, and glass, now food waste has also been added to it. While most families find it to be a tedious task, it does not go unrewarded.
The New York City department of sanitation also implemented a strategy to speed up the collection of food wastes. Every residence in New York City and the surrounding boroughs were supplied with a small, brown trashcan with the department’s logo on it. It was meant SPECIFICALLY for food wastes to be placed, and this is how it would be separated from trash/recyclables, ultimately to be collected by companies that assist with projects like Vincent Vigliotti’s.
