What's the only real solution for pollution?

Question

I'm from a country with few people and lots of nature - where people like me love to get lost in areas where no man-made things can be seen, swim in pure mountain streams and make love on unpolluted beaches. BUT, right now I'm living in a country where people live on top of each other like rats, the rivers have a nauseating odor, the sky turns gray-brown even on sunny days and the beaches are covered in pieces of plastic, glass, razors and other types of flotsam garbage from the polluted ocean. For me the problem is simple: Each one of us creates a mountain of pollution in our lifetime. Surely we need to start reducing the growth rate of populations, surely we need to reverse this growth rate. Yet, governments are actively increasing their populations to compete economically with other nations (more people means more cheap labor, more consumers and more soldiers). This creates increased competition for resources and is a certain recipe for war. How do we stop this insane cycle?

Answer 1

The only real solution to the whole problem is the substitution of an anaerobic digestion of our garbage. With this method, sewage is processed in gas-tight tanks where complete transformation takes place. As gases are generated, they are drawn off and stored for future use.

The sedimentation of digested sludge in the anaerobic tanks is chemicals and minerals. These are also drawn off and dehydrated over an incinerator in which only combustible rubbish (not the organic wastes that present systems try to cremate) is burned. The dried sludge is then mixed with incinerator ashes - potash - to make the finest fertilizer.

All discharge water from this system is pure enough for irrigation and percolation to replenish subsurface waters. All the nutrients that now are passed along to cause algae trouble in our lakes are retained in the dried fertilizer.

Gases that were drawn off as the sewage digested can be used to augment the incinerator fires or turn dynamos to electrify whole cities. It may even be used as fuel for internal combustion engines where - just like natural gas - it contributes only a tiny fraction of gasoline's pollution to the air.

This system of anaerobic sewage disposal was designed by my friend, Russell P. Howard. Mr. Howard is a mechanical draftsman and consulting engineer. His anaerobic design is nothing but a glorified and refined septic tank and will work . . . as every septic tank demonstrates. A similar idea, the Imhoff tank system, has been employed in Germany for years. In Milan, Italy enough gas is generated by this method to provide electricity for the entire city.

A few sanitation plants in this country have tried the anaerobic bacteria disposal system - but never on a 100% basis. In 1940, I visited a plant in Pasadena, California, where they had an installation of closed tanks for many years. Only about 10% of the sludge there was processed in gas-tight tanks but, still, enough gas was collected to run five internal combustion engines of 200 to 800 horsepower. In addition, there was a four-inch standpipe to the northwest of the plant which had been burning sewage gas 24 hours a day for fifty years! An incredible waste.

Russell Howard and I have been fighting this madness for 37 years. We've appeared before the Board of Public Works and submitted detailed proposals to the City Engineers of many towns. I personally was active for years as Chairman of Health in the People's Lobby of Los Angeles. And what has been the result of these efforts? Here's a typical example:

In 1933, Russell Howard submitted plans for a sewage plant of his design to the city of San Francisco. This proposal was presented through the competent engineering firm of Lindgren and Swinnerton after Edward Hussey, Consulting Engineer of Oakland, had recommended that the Howard system be adopted.

There was no action. Millions of dollars have since been spent on waste disposal equipment by San Francisco and Oakland and 90% of their raw sewage is still dumped into the Bay and the Ocean. Much of the other 10% is hauled by the S.P. Railroad to Visitation Valley for "cut-and-cover" land fill and the resulting rodent infestations that such disposal encourages.

Has the Howard system been rejected because it costs more? No. It is one-third less expensive than other equipment. It also puts almost a complete stop to the garbage disposal racket which is one of the biggest political plums in America. (Los Angeles' last election for mayor showed - through Proposition A - what a lucrative business it is to pick up garbage.) Apparently the Howard, or a like, system will continue to be shelved until enough citizens demand an accounting of their tax dollars and an end to senseless pollution.

Finally, after 37 years, that day may not be too far away. Ecology movement people and other honest folks are beginning to demand just such action. The sanitation authorities of several cities are also starting to realize that Milwaukee, Wisconsin has found a ready market for its Milorganite (made from sewage sludge) all over the country. In San Diego County, a Dr. Groth has developed enough gas from hog manure to electrify his property and run a tractor.

I have been asked if the Howard system can be adapted for use by, say, a 50 to 100 member commune located in a region remote from outside power sources. The answer is yes.

Fifty to 100 people will mean about five thousand gallons of water and 100 pounds of sewage and garbage sludge per day. This calls for three tanks, each approximately 10 X 10 X 10 feet, kept at a temperature of 85° Fahrenheit.

It should be noted that the extent to which the effluent is purified depends on the capacity of the tanks in relation to the volume of waste that flows through them. There must be time, in other words, for the solids to settle in the tanks. At a temperature of 85° F, about 72 hours are required for this process. The tanks, then, must be large enough to hold at least three days' sewage.

After the initial 72 hours, during which the anaerobic bacteria do their job, all future action - which we term reclamation - is spontaneous. The natural process of bacteria action will devour the garbage as fast as it flows into the plant . . . just as every septic tank does. The effluent from the third tank will be clear enough for irrigation. Additional tanks can be built as population increases.

This plant will produce about 500 cubic feet of gas per day with 650 British Thermal Units per cubic foot. The gas can be piped anywhere since it is natural gas. The only caution is that you must not breath it as it can kill you.

One further caution about the water - or effluent - that flows from the plant: Anaerobic bacteria are not miracle workers. They, like aerobic bacteria, cannot digest nonbiodegradable compounds. If you flush detergents into your plant, they'll come right out the other side in the discharge water. Such water will ruin a boiler as the detergents leave an alkali buildup.

Answer 2

You got some facts wrong.
The only countries where the population is increasing is in the "third world"
In the countries where "sky turns gray-brown even on sunny days and the beaches are covered in pieces of plastic," the population is growing at an alarmingly slow rate. In some first world countries the population is shrinking already! For example: In Germany the population growth rate is -0.02%![1] While in such a "pristine" country as Kenya the growth is a huge +2.57![2]
The cause of this is widepread abortion and birth control which are virtually unknow in the thirld world.
So really you have to re-think your argument as pollution rates do not seem to correspond with population growth rate.

Answer 3

first of all the govt should step up to control the pollution.
people should not dump waste. as the population is growing, more resources need to be dug out from the ground. As a result more resources are used up. Non- renewable resources cannot be get back once used up.
govt can control use of vehicle by imosing high taxes, like Singapore.
stop releasing harmful gases in the open air. This harmful substances from the industries pollutes the air and stands as a big threat to us.
Air pollution harms us in a very dangerous way. Many suffer lots of diseases because of air pollutants.
there are also acid rain which is the result of air pollution, Acid rain harms the environment, as well as our propeties.

WE SHOULD START WORKING NOW TO PREVENT THE ENVIRONMENT FROM CAUSING DAMAGE.

Answer 4

Guess, you can't. There's no solution that I can think of. Hunger for MORE is basic human nature.

The only thing that you can do is -
1. Move to outskirts/serene locality in your city.
2. If possible, start a small group and arrange campaigns against the litter/garbage in your locality.

Answer 5

The explosion in population and their consumption are the main causes of pollution. It is next to impossible to restrict consumption. So the only choice against pollution is population control

Answer 6

Polution on gross platform, such as polluted air, water etc. is simply a manifestation of the pollution on subtle platform, namely our mind. If we propagate spiritual consciousness all over the world, people's minds will be purified, and the gross pollution will dissapear automatically. If you want to be one of those people whose minds are completely pure, just take to spiritual path. You can learn more at www.backtohome.com, and you can also read Bhagavad-gita as it is at www.bhagavadgitaasitis.com

Answer 7

Man is the pollution.

Answer 8

we should stop depending on FOSSIL FUEL. renewable energy is the only solution!

Answer 9

kill ourselves, and breathn the fresh air of heaven