Transcript Slide 1

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
• 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.
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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
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3.5 billion lbs of carpet
3.3 trillion lbs of CO2 gas
19 billion lbs polystyrene foam peanuts
28 billion lbs of food
Waste Incinerators
• 1865 - The first waste incinerator was built
in Michigan
• 1874 - The “Destructor” was Britain’s
attempt to burn waste to produce energy
• 1905 - 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
Federal Regulations
• 1970 - Clean Air Act regulates emissions
• 1976 - 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
• 1990 - Emissions defined - MACT standards
(maximum allowable emissions)
2005 EPA Regulations
• 2005 - 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).
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.
Technology
Operating WTE Plants in the
U.S.
• States with Waste-to-Energy plants Have Higher Recycling
Rates
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).
Emissions
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-ToEnergy
837*
0.8
5.4
(includes ‘avoided emissions’)
Cons
• Release of Dioxins
• Waste Energy < 1 % Total
• NOx and Sox emissions
• Metal vapor (mercury) emissions
• Perceived reduction in recycling
• Odors, pest attraction
Pros
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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
Covanta/OCRRA Facility – Onondaga County
Landfill methane recovery
Madison County, NY