Waste to Energy Plants Outweighing the Negative

1
Waste to Energy PlantsOutweighing the Negative

• Léokham OConnor IDS 3301
• Dr. Demers
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• 4-02-09

2
 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

3
Introduction

• Waste Energy plants are a multi-functional
  alternative energy solution for societys 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.
4
The United States

• Americans represent 5 of the worlds 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
• 3.5 billion lbs of carpet
• 3.3 trillion lbs of CO2 gas
• 19 billion lbs polystyrene foam peanuts
• 28 billion lbs of food

5
Waste Incinerators Timeline

• 1865 - The first waste incinerator was built in
  Michigan
• 1874 - The Destructor was Britains first
  attempt to burn waste to produce energy
• 1905 - New York uses wastes incinerator to create
  electricity and light the Williamsburg Bridge
• 1930s Incinerators became too expensive,
  making waste dumps a more viable option

6
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

7
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)

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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.

9
Current Technology
10
Operating WTE Plants in the U.S.

• These States with Waste-to-Energy plants Have
  Higher Recycling Rates

11
Environmental Concerns
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
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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).

13
Cons

• Release of Dioxins
• Already Occurring Naturally
• Waste Energy lt 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

14
Pros

• 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

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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

16
References

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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  

17
References

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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  
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•  

18
References

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•  
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•  
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