WASTE
Waste on Galapagos Islands can be divided into 3 main groups:
- sewage (water waste);
- organic trash;
- inorganic trash.
SEWAGE
Solar Aquatic System (SAS):
How it works:
SAS is based on circulation of waste water through a system of clear tanks located in a greenhouse. Each tank contains specific aquatic ecosystem. Sunlight, oxygen, algae, bacteria snails and fish are used to purify the water. Mixing and aeration prevents the content of the tanks from settling.
Features:
SAS is a natural, non-mechanical way of water treatment. The system is complex, dynamic, self-organizing and adjusting. It can resist the change of effluent quality more efficient than any mechanical system.
Sewage in SAS is treated not as waste but as food for microorganisms and plants. It assures the recovery of nutrients.
Efficiency:
SAS can serve population from 100 to 20,000 citizens
The time of water treatment is from 2 to five days
Water from SAS can be used as groundwater recharge, flushing toilets, irrigation.
Other advantages:
No invasive species are introduced to the Galapagos ecosystem-all species are isolated in a greenhouse
No pollution created
New work places created
Educational attraction
Location:
One SAS station should be located on each island. Because of its features SAS does not have of be located away form villages.
Other notes:
To convince population of Galapagos to support the project, local community should be employed to the SAS construction and maintenance.
Sources:
http://www.newcity.ca/Pages/solar_aquatics.html
http://www.ecological-engineering.com/solaraquatics.html
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/programs/3354e29.pdf
ORGANIC TRASH
Biomass:
How it works:
The organic trash is collected, transported to the biomass disposal station. The waste is exposed to bacteria, which feed on dead plants and animals. Methane is a product in this reaction. This natural gas can be then used as an efficient energy source. Methane can be used in further processes of electricity production or in its pure form to produce heat. The best solution for Galapagos will be an underground biomass treatment station. In this case all the process of decomposition of organic matter takes place underground. The greatest advantage of this solution is lack of unpleasant smell.
Features:
Biomass does not add to greenhouse effect. It absorbs existing CO2 and emits it during combustion. Hence only cycling of CO2 in the atmosphere occurs.
Biomass guarantees independence form foreign oil and cola sources
No pollution, high air standards
Biomass is a great solution of disposing and transforming organic waste that otherwise would create environmental risk.
Efficiency:
The organic trash is the main trash produced on Galapagos Islands (charts). According to the predictions, biomass will be an efficient energy source, which could satisfy about 50% of energy demand on Galapagos.
Other advantages:
New work places
Environmental friendly
Location:
The biomass disposal station should be placed on Santa Cruz. This would be the most efficient location as far as the tonnage of trash produced on each island is concerned. All organic trash from other islands should be transported to this disposal station.
Sources:
http://www.energy.state.or.us/biomass/BiomassHome.htm
http://www.bera1.org/
http://www.yptenc.org.uk/docs/factsheets/env_facts/biomass_energy.html
INORGANIC TRASH
Export to mainland:
How it works:
Inorganic trash will be collected every week from peopleshouses and transported to a ship with which all the litter will be transported to the mainland to be recycled or placed in a junk yard.
Features:
This is extremely friendly for the environment of Galapagos as it simply removes all the trash from there so that it doesn disturb the ecosystem.
Sources:
http://galapagos.solarquest.com/documents/SandiaGalapagosReport200307.pdf
