“939” ORGANIC MATERIALS

FUTURE FLOWS TO LANDFILLS? Rice straw from burning phase-outs Other agricultural residuals? Waste from logging, wood processing Biomass-to-energy feedstocks

GASIFICATION “Cooks” feedstock at high temps No combustion Yields gases that are turned into electricity

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION Bacteria “digest” feedstocks Yields gases and residues Gases into electricity Residues into fertilizer

HYDROLYSIS Breaks feedstocks into sugars, then “brews” products Uses acid or enzymes Yields ethanol, citric acid, other products

FEEDSTOCKS Mostly cellulose-based = plant material –Organic part of solid waste (wood, yard, etc.) –Low-grade paper part of solid waste –Ag and forest residues –Some also can take plastics Each technology needs certain characteristics Which feedstocks best for which technologies?

BENEFITS Diversion beyond 50% New energy, fuel, and industrial products Reduced environmental impacts –Need lifecycle analyses, operating plants to confirm If co-located at MRF, reduced transportation and siting impacts Local economic development Less dependence on external energy sources

COMMERCIAL FACILITIES THAT USE SOLID WASTE Australia – Brightstar gasification Ontario, Canada – Canadian Compost Inc. anaerobic digestion New York – Masada hydrolysis (under construction)

BRIGHTSTAR - GASIFICATION Woolagong, Australia Uses post-recycled solid waste Operational early 2001 Designed for about 75,000 tons per year Produces 10 megawatts currently Permitted by New South Wales EPA –2-year trial license

CANADIAN COMPOST INC. - ANAEROBIC DIGESTION Newmarket, Ontario Uses mixed solid waste that is then separated Operational in 2000 Designed for 150,000 tons per year Produces 5 megawatts + fertilizer

MASADA - HYDROLYSIS Middletown, New York Will use post-recycled solid waste + biosolids Under construction Designed for about 200,000 tons per year Will yield 9 million gals. ethanol + gypsum

CALIFORNIA FACILITIES USING SOLID WASTE NONE!!

CIWMB CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY FORUM May 3-4, 2001 in Sacramento About 160 participants Objectives: –shared understanding –diverse opinions –initial recommendations

ISSUES/BARRIERS Lack of political leadership Statutory constraints Lack of funding Economics and markets Lack of data Feedstock access Public perception & understanding Regulatory

CIWMB BOARD ACTIONS May 2001: Directed work in 5 areas: –Interagency coordination –Follow-up workshops/symposia –Leveraging Fed/State $$ –Proposals for small-scale grants and lifecycle analysis research –Assist applicants in permit process October 2001: Contract $$

CIWMB STRATEGIC PLAN Conversion technologies could be major tool towards zero waste Strategic Plan Goals & Objectives –Environmentally preferable technologies –Promoting new technologies and processes –Alternative means of diversion, including technologies that result in electricity and fuel

WORKSHOPS & OUTREACH Presentations to RCRC, Western SWANA, League of Cities, SCAG, LEA Conf., others Surveyed 80 local governments, 20 vendors CRRA - July 2002 –3-hour session on lifecycle costs/benefits SWANA - October 2002 –Workshop + vendor trade show RMDZ Investors Forum -- TBD Renewable Fuels Assoc. Ethanol Conf. – Feb 02

INTERAGENCY COORDINATION California Energy Commission –Public Interest Energy Research Program Office of Planning and Research California Dept. Forestry Technology, Trade, & Commerce Agency U.S. Forest Service U.S. Dept. of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory

FUNDING Seeking $$ for R&D grants, lifecycle analyses Seeking project financing from agencies –Energy Commission, US Dept. of Energy, etc. Board contract $$ approved Oct 2001 –Will support outreach events and some initial technology comparisons

ASSISTING PROPOSED PROJECTS Some want $$, most want permit assistance Gasification - Riverside Co. –County RFP Gasification - Orange Co. –Considering MRF co-location Hydrolysis - southern California –Would produce ethanol Anaerobic digestion - Los Angeles –Co-locate at landfill, power to city?

PERMIT ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS Questions about process and time –since no facilities in California yet Goal: link local and State permitting entities and coordinate process Working with Cal/EPA Permit Assistance Siting issues: –Local zoning and planning –Environmental justice –Air quality –Transportation

REGULATORY AND PERMITTING ISSUES CIWMB regs cover some aspects, not others –Gasification in “transformation,” needs full permit –Hydrolysis not defined, so no permit? –Anaerobic digestion in composting regs, needs permit based on size and feedstock How to ensure up-front recycling & diversion programs are not impaired

REGULATORY AND PERMITTING ISSUES Staff workshop January 2002 Background paper on current framework Solicit external stakeholder feedback Types of questions: –Should conversion technologies be defined separately from transformation? –How should they be regulated?

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