1. 25 September 2008 Risk Communication New and Emerging Waste Treatment Technologies – A Risk Communication Challenge Mike Studden Regional Head of Environmental Hazards Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division

2. Risk Communication Workshop Aims: Understand drivers for change in disposal of waste in UK Provide brief overview of alternative treatments and technologies Review potential health effects of emerging methodologies Explore common public concerns and misconceptions Consider public risk communication challenges and responses

3. Risk Communication EC Landfill Directive* Overall aim is "to prevent or reduce as far as possible negative effects on the environment, in particular the pollution of surface water, groundwater, soil and air, and on the global environment, including the greenhouse effect, as well as any resulting risk to human health, from the landfilling of waste, during the whole life-cycle of the landfill". *Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste Official Journal L 182, 16/07/1999 P. 0001 - 0019

4. Risk Communication EC Landfill Directive “A step change in the way we dispose of waste in this country helping to drive waste up the hierarchy through waste minimisation and increased levels of recycling and recovery.” DEFRA 2002

5. Risk Communication EC Landfill Directive Certain wastes banned from landfill All landfill sites must be classified as for inert waste, hazardous waste or nonhazardous waste – this latter category covers most biodegradable waste. Requires the pre-treatment of wastes going to landfill (and this treatment can include sorting) The UK practice of co-disposal in landfills of hazardous and non-hazardous waste must end by July 2004.

6. Risk Communication Background UK historical reliance on landfill waste disposal (93% in 1997) About 100 million tonnes of waste generated annually from households, commerce and industry. Most of this ends up in landfill.

7. Risk Communication Specific EC Landfill Directive requirements

8. Risk Communication Definition of Municipal Waste “Municipal waste includes household waste and any other wastes collected by waste collection authorities (or their agents) such as municipal parks and gardens waste, beach cleansing waste, commercial or industrial waste and waste resulting from the clearance of fly-tipped materials”. Waste Strategy for England 2007 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy.

9. Risk Communication

10. Energy from waste is expected to account for 25% of municipal waste by 2020 Waste Strategy for England 2007 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy.

11. Risk Communication

12. New and Emerging Waste Treatment Technologies Mechanical Treatment Mechanical Separation / Pulverisation Refuse Derived Fuel Recycling Unsorted / residual waste Materials Recovery Facility (Dirty MRF) Materials Recovery Facility (Clean MRF) Biological Treatments Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) Anaerobic Digestion Composting - Windrow and In-vessel

13. Risk Communication New and emerging waste technologies Thermal Treatments (with or without energy recovery) Moving Grate Incineration Fluidised Bed Incineration Co-Incineration Combined Heat and Power Thermal Treatments with materials recovery Pyrolosis & Gasification Steam Reformation Processes / Autoclaving

14. Risk Communication SOURCE PATHWAY RECEPTOR

15. Risk Communication Pathways: Inhalation Ingestion Absorption

16. Risk Communication Emission Properties Quantification Characterisation Reactivity Distribution Dilution Dispersion Explosive

17. Risk Communication Advanced Biological Treatment

18. Risk Communication Advanced Biological Treatment

19. Risk Communication Advanced Thermal Treatment

20. Risk Communication Advanced Thermal Treatment

21. Risk Communication Mechanical Biological Treatment of Municipal Solid Waste

22. Risk Communication

23. Fluidised Bed Waste to Energy Facility

24. Risk Communication

28. USEFUL BACKGROUND READING Review of the environmental and health effects of waste management. DEFRA, May 2004 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/research/health/index.htm Introductory Guide to Options for the Diversion of Biodegradable Municipal Waste from Landfill http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/wip/newtech/pdf/introductory- guide-2007.pdf Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Position Statement HPA November 2005 http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947374730