Denmark Leading the Way on Garbage to Energy Conversion

Elisabeth Rosenthal reports on the growing, cleaner technology for incineration in Denmark that now filters many of the chemicals (like dioxin) that caused health problems in early generations.

Rosenthal writes, "...such plants have become both the mainstay of garbage disposal and a crucial fuel source across Denmark, from wealthy exurbs like Horsholm to Copenhagen's downtown area. Their use has not only reduced the country's energy costs and reliance on oil and gas, but also benefited the environment, diminishing the use of landfills and cutting carbon dioxide emissions."

Environmental groups argue that turning garbage into fuel will accelerate the appetite for waste, rather than encouraging conservation and recycling.