Southern California Emerging Waste Technologies Forum July 27, 2006 Conversion Technology 101

Welcome  Current Solid Waste Management System in Los Angeles  What Are Conversion Technologies?  Where Do We Go From Here

The Solid Waste Management Hierarchy in California: 1.Source Reduction 2.Reuse 3.Recycling/Composting Environmentally Safe Transformation and Landfilling Disposal Diversion

Solid Waste Generation in California (& Los Angeles County)  Total generated: 78 (24) million tons/year  Total diverted (3 Rs): 37 (12) million tons/year  Total disposed (landfilled or incinerated): 41 (12) million tons/year  Statewide Diversion Rate: 47.5%  Countywide Diversion Rate: 49% * sources: CIWMB & L.A. County DPW, 2004

Solid Waste Composition 1. Organics (e.g. food & green waste) – 30% 2. Construction & Demolition – 22% 3. Paper – 21% 4. Plastics – 10% 5. Metals – 8% * source: CIWMB

To Review the Problem:  Every year, 41 million tons of waste are disposed in CA, primarily in landfills, and the total amount disposed continues to grow  In L.A. County, disposal capacity is dwindling  Residual solid waste is incredibly heterogeneous  Up to 80% of residual solid waste is organic (green waste, paper, plastics, etc.)

Solid Waste Management Options Recycling/ Composting Landfill Transformation After Reducing and Reusing…

Transformation IncinerationConversion

Comparison Incineration Conversion Materials are incinerated (burned) High heat Produces ash May be used to generate electricity Low public acceptance in CA Thermal, Chemical, or Biological, does NOT include incineration May produce energy, fuel, chemicals or other products Includes a diverse array of technologies, processes, and feedstocks vs.

…and why are they important? Conversion Technologies are an array of emerging technologies capable of converting post-recycling residual solid waste into useful products and chemicals, green fuels like ethanol and biodiesel, and clean, renewable energy What are Conversion Technologies…

Sample Conversion Technologies  Pyrolysis is the thermal processing of waste in the absence of oxygen  Gasification is the thermal processing of waste using heat, pressure, and steam to convert materials directly into a gas Thermal:

Sample Conversion Technologies  Acid Hydrolysis is the chemical decomposition of waste using acid and water to split chemical bonds Chemical:

Sample Conversion Technologies  Anaerobic digestion is the bacterial breakdown of organic materials in the absence of oxygen  Aerobic digestion is, essentially, composting Biological:

Sample Conversion Technologies Facilities vary technology to technology, feedstock to feedstock and vendor to vendor. No two are alike. images reprinted with permission from CIWMB staff presentation, Dec. 2001, and from City of Los Angeles’ RENEW LA Plan, July 2005

 Ability to manage the State’s excess biomass and organic wastes (including biosolids, agricultural residue, etc.)  Ability to recover materials not feasibly recyclable for beneficial use  Reduce pollution and environmental impacts  Reduce dependence on landfills and waste exporting, maintaining local control over disposal  Ability to locally produce renewable energy and green fuels, including ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, etc.  Promotes energy independence from foreign oil  Creates professional, long term “green collar” jobs  Reduces GHG emissions Potential CT Benefits

Where is Conversion?  Lack of development in CA is primarily due to 3 factors:  Cost,  Regulatory Hurdles, and  Misconceptions

Where is Conversion?  Cost  L.A. County has relatively low landfill tipping fees ($28-35/ton). However as landfills close and more waste must be shipped to distant destinations, by truck or rail, conversion will become more competitive.  There are no existing commercial facilities in the U.S. using solid waste as a feedstock, making financing more difficult

Misconceptions  Myth #1 -- Jurisdictions will utilize conversion facilities in lieu of implementing traditional recycling programs  No, conversion facilities will be handling post-recycled (residual) solid waste  Jurisdictions must still implement their recycling programs and comply with AB 939  Myth #2 – Conversion facilities will produce excessive toxic emissions or will be exempt from stringent environmental laws/regulations  No, they must comply with all applicable laws and regulations  Conversion technologies are capable of meeting all environmental standards/safeguards as may be required by necessary permits, and have been shown to reduce net pollution, including GHGs

For example, a gasification facility must meet the following criteria (AB 2770, 2002): Regulations vs. Reality  Does not use air or oxygen in the conversion process  Produces no discharges of air contaminants or emissions  Produces no discharges to surface or ground water  Produces no hazardous waste  Removes all recyclable materials and marketable green waste materials to the maximum extent feasible  Is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances  Any local agency sending solid waste to the facility has diverted at least 30 percent of all solid waste through source reduction, recycling, and composting

Summary  Conversion Technologies can recover materials otherwise destined for disposal  Conversion projects are in development throughout the country  If local efforts are successful, California would lead the U.S. in the development of these advanced technologies  It’s important for scientists, politicians, policy makers, environmentalists, and industry to continue to collaborate and dialogue