Environment: Turning to New Technologies

Incinerators and voracious bacteria help dispose of waste

As U.S. industries face the growing problem of how to deal with toxic wastes, which now total an awesome 300 million tons generated each year, they have increasingly turned to new technologies. Science has yet to find foolproof ways of getting rid of all polysyllabic perils. But it has come up with a number of alternatives to simple dumping.

Toxins like organic solvents, PCBs and dioxin will be broken down ^ completely only when burned at temperatures exceeding 2,400 degrees F. Some conventional incinerators can generate such heat, but without careful controls to maintain high temperatures they may spew toxic gases...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!