Waste to Energy Plants
Outweighing the Negative
Léokham O’Connor
IDS 3301
Dr. Demers
Florida Gulf Coast University
4-02-09
Waste Energy
• Waste to energy plants are mass burn
technologies in which everything is burned
at extremely high temperatures
• Waste to energy started off with 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, there are
loopholes but there still there
Introduction
• Waste Energy plants are a multi-functional
alternative energy solution for society’s waste
and energy challenges and are better for the
environment than other alternatives.
The U.S. burns 14 percent of its trash in waste-to-energy plants. Denmark, on the other hand, burns 54 percent.
The United States
• Americans represent 5% of the world’s
population
• 30% of the worlds garbage is generated
• 63,000 garbage trucks everyday
– Individually 90,000 lbs of waste from birth to death
• 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 Timeline
• 1865 - The first waste incinerator was
built in Michigan
• 1874 - The “Destructor” was Britain’s
first attempt to burn waste to produce
energy
• 1905 - New York uses wastes incinerator
to create electricity and light the
Williamsburg Bridge
• 1930’s – Incinerators became too
expensive, making waste dumps a more
viable option
EPA Regulations
• 1970 - Clean Air Act established to regulate air
emissions
• 1975 - goals were set for every state
• 1976 - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
• More control over hazardous waste that includes
generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and
disposal which laid a frame work for non-hazardous
waste
• 1984- Increased EPA enforcement authority in
hazardous waste disposal and handling
• 1990 - Technology based sources of emissions
defined as major sources that emit 10 tons per
year or 25 tons of hazardous air pollutants
• MACT (maximum achievable control technology) test and
review of standards
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
left by the incinerators (EPA, 2009)
Stimulus Bill 2008
• The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of
2008 takes effect.
• This 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.
Current Technology
Operating WTE Plants in the U.S.
• These States with Waste-to-Energy plants Have Higher Recycling Rates
Environmental Concerns
Air Emissions of Waste-To-Energy and Fossil Fuel
Power Plants
(Pounds per Megawatt Hour)
Facility
Carbon
Sulfur
Nitrogen
Type
Dioxide
Dioxide
Oxides
Coal
2,249
13
6
Oil
1,672
12
4
Natural Gas
1,135
0.1
1.7
Waste-To-
837
0.8
5.4
Energy
Environmental Concerns
• Dioxins are a major concern
– Super toxic chemical that can cause immune
to nervous system damage.
– By-product of manufacture, molding, or
burning of organic chemical
– Toxicity is second to radioactive waste
(Campbell).
– The chemical in the incinerators are destroyed
due to high temperatures of over 1800 F
which destroy dioxins (Frederick County
Government, 2008).
Cons
• Release of Dioxins
• Already Occurring Naturally
• Waste Energy < 1 % Total
• Carbon Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide
• Nitrogen Oxide
• Man-made Sources
• Contributes to Acid Rain
• Perceived Reduction in Recycling
• Constant burning to produce energy
Pros
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Create Revenue
Reduce Landfill
Unlimited Resource (Trash)
26 States legally define Waste to
Energy as a renewable resource
• Ash recycled in construction
• 1500 tons of trash produces about
40,000 kilowatts of electricity to
power around 40,000 homes
Conclusion
• Waste to energy plants out weigh the
bad by using the best technology to
reduce air emissions and leaks
• EPA regulations more stringent that
leads the companies to find better
technology or make existing
technology better
• Recycling is increased
• We can reduce our consumptions
but that will not change for awhile
References
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