Detroit Zoo plans to use animal waste to power facilities

The Detroit Zoo is looking to turn 400 tons of animal waste generated every year into thousands of dollars in savings.

The Detroit Zoological Society and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise enough money to build a biodigester, ABC News reports. The biodigester would turn all of that manure and other organic waste into methane-rich gas that could help power the Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex, saving the zoo between $70,000 to $80,000 annually.

The biodigester would also convert manure into compost to fertilize habitats, gardens, and public areas. If $55,000 is raised through the campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and crowdfunding platform Patronicity will give a $55,000 matching grant, meaning there will be plenty of waste-generated power to go around.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up