2.  Energy from Waste
Mass burn technologies operating at extremely high temperatures
Initially - no filtration for hazardous air emissions
No federal or state regulations
Now advanced technology such as the bag filtration and monitoring systems
More stringent EPA standards
Based in part on:
Waste to Energy Plants Outweighing the Negative
Léokham O’Connor Florida Gulf Coast University 2

3. Better alternative than landfills
Waste Energy plants - a multi-purpose energy solution for municipal solid waste
Better alternative than landfills
The U.S. burns 14 percent of its trash in waste-to-energy plants.
Denmark, burns 54 percent. 3

4. U.S. - 5% of the world’s population U.S. - 30% of the world’s garbage
63,000 garbage trucks daily
90,000 lbs of waste individual lifetime
Less than 2% is recycled
Every year
3.5 billion lbs of carpet
3.3 trillion lbs of CO2 gas
19 billion lbs polystyrene foam peanuts
28 billion lbs of food 4

5. Waste Incinerators
The first waste incinerator was built in Michigan
The “Destructor” was Britain’s attempt to burn waste to produce energy
New York uses waste incinerator to create electricity and light the Williamsburg Bridge
1930’s – Incinerators too expensive, making waste dumps a more viable option 5

6. Federal Regulations 1970 - Clean Air Act regulates emissions
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Control of hazardous waste generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal
1986 – Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA)
Strict guidelines for municipalities; landfill design
Emissions defined - MACT standards (maximum allowable emissions) 6

7. 2005 EPA Regulations
The EPA amends national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for hazardous waste combustors under section 112 of the Clean Air Act.
more stringent requirements for the bag leak detection, air pollutants and other material residue from incinerators (EPA, 2009). 7

8. Stimulus Bill 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 takes effect.
Legislation extends tax credits for landfill gas and trash combustion facilities.
It also provides new tax credits for those who purchase capital investment bonds in renewable energy facilities. 8

9. Technology 9

10. Operating WTE Plants in the U.S.
States with Waste-to-Energy plants Have Higher Recycling Rates 10

11. Environmental Concerns
Dioxin a major concern
Toxic chemical that can cause immune and nervous system damage.
By-product of manufacture, molding, or burning of Cl-containing organic materials
Toxicity is comparable to radioactive waste
Temperatures over 1800 F destroy dioxins (Frederick County Government, 2008). 11

12. Emissions (includes ‘avoided emissions’) Facility Type Carbon Dioxide
Air Emissions of Waste-To-Energy and Fossil Fuel Power Plants
(Pounds per Megawatt Hour)
Facility Type
Carbon Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide
Nitrogen Oxides
Coal
2,249 13 6
Oil
1,672 12 4
Natural Gas
1,135
0.1
1.7
Waste-To-Energy
837*
0.8
5.4
(includes ‘avoided emissions’) 12

13. Cons Release of Dioxins Waste Energy < 1 % Total
NOx and Sox emissions
Metal vapor (mercury) emissions
Perceived reduction in recycling
Odors, pest attraction 13

14. Pros Create revenue Reduce landfill impacts; hauling distances
Constant supply of resources (Trash)
26 States legally define Waste to Energy as a renewable resource
Ash can be recycled (construction)
1500 tons of trash/day produces about electricity to power around 40,000 homes
ideal co-generation system 14

15. Covanta/OCRRA Facility – Onondaga County

16. Landfill methane recovery
Madison County, NY