Dog Poo Power in San Francisco

In my part of San Fancisco, dogs and strollers tyrannize the sidewalks equally, so I thought the dog and baby/toddler populations had to be similarly healthy. I did not know that the city's animals produce nearly as much waste as tykes, however. Apparently, at 6,500 tons per year, animal droppings are nipping at the heals of disposable diaper tonage. Not for long. The Associated Press tells us:

Within the next few months, Norcal Waste, a garbage hauling company that collects San Francisco's trash, will begin a pilot program under which it will use biodegradable bags and dog-waste carts to pick up droppings at a popular dog park.

The droppings will be tossed into a contraption called a methane digester, which is basically a tank in which bacteria feed on feces for weeks to create methane gas.

The methane could then be piped directly to a gas stove, heater, turbine or anything else powered by natural gas. It can also be used to generate electricity.

We'll keep you posted on this one. Via the Associated Press at Yahoo! News :: S.F. Examines Power of Dog Droppings. Reuters photo.

Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:

• Produce: The Other Reusable Bag
• Who Needs a Mandate to Compost? Be Your Own San Francisco
• Invasive Species: When Small Creatures Do Big Damage
• Meet Emily "Alix" Fano, Co-Chair of PS 166's Green Committee
• Do Zoos and Captive Breeding Really Help Endangered Species or Address Habitat Loss?
• Humble Pile: Human Waste Composting Project in Chicago

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