Environment

Wacky Business Idea #9: Stockpiling Garbage

by mtippett | August 27, 2008 at 02:37 pm

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Last week I was getting bummed out about the impending ecological collapse that seems more assured with each passing day. Then I had an idea that gave me reason for optimism. What if, as the cost of petroleum and other resources skyrockets, our garbage dumps become new mines? Think about it. Plastic is really an oil reserve. As with many ideas it seems someone else had the same one. Here is a great blog entry on the same concept.

Over time, as elements in the garbage dump increase in value, some will eventually hit the point where they can be extracted from the dump at a profit. At this point, while safely storing the waste is an ongoing concern for the business, the garbage is treated as a mine. Valuable parts are removed, processed, and sold at a profit. On an ongoing basis, waste can continue to be accepted and stockpiled for future times when it may become economical to reclaim them.

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