What some might see as garbage, others see as an opportunity for clean energy.

Chris Valesco, president of Projects Linking Arts, Community and Environment (PLACE), plans to build a zero waste community in Park. Students should welcome this proposal, as it will benefit the environment, the community and the economy.

An engine running on biogas powers the development and the community uses leftover liquid fertilizer to grow food in a greenhouse on the property. In addition to biogas, it will also use solar, wind and geothermal energy.

The environment benefits from this new development because it is self sustaining, with food production year round. This allows for less waste and increased use of local foods.

In addition to creating a cleaner city, the development creates a mix of apartments, studios and business spaces available for many incomes, according to PLACE. This brings more diversity into the community by providing spaces for more businesses to form and opportunities for many different families to join together in one building.

This development may also benefit the economy. According to the American Biogas  Council, biogas creates jobs and generates revenue.

Those opposed to biogas argue it is not entirely clean because it still produces some harmful gases. However, biogas emits less carbon than fossil fuels.

Although the idea of garbage powering their buildings does not appeal to some, the city will only allow the building of this development if it does not smell or make noise.

We need more sources of renewable energy and this community will combine many different energy sources, which will benefit  the environment, community and economy by starting a process of cleaner thinking and new policies.

The new composting system in the school cafeteria shows students care about helping the environment. Developing this new zero waste community would allow students to continually help improve their community and make a lasting impact for their generation and those to come.