New Energy for Waste-to-Energy

Many communities are starting to look at newer waste-to-energy technologies — known in the industry as “conversion” technologies — that produce vehicle fuel and electricity from municipal solid waste.

Waste Age features an article in its May issue that reports on the renewed interest in the waste-to-energy (WTE) industry. Recent years have seen expansions of traditional WTE facilities, and new technologies include include gasification and pyrolysis.

Several factors have contributed to this renewed interest in taking advantage of the energy value of MSW. Traditionally, the push has come because local landfills are at capacity and about to close, and there is community opposition to a new disposal site. The feature highlights a few conversion projects. While some communities have investigated conversion and terminated projects, others are forging ahead.

The article also looks at mass-burn waterwall combustion technology, which is still the most common for large WTE facilities in the United States and overseas. Frederick County, Md., and Palm Beach County, Fla., are both developing new mass-burn facilities, with plans for completion in 2015.

The author advises that consideration of any waste processing technology must include identifying the relative risks involved. In conducting a risk assessment, it is important to evaluate the following factors and answer questions about the company offering the technology.