What is Waste to Energy?
Waste to energy (WTE) is a combustion or gasification process that uses waste streams as feedstocks to produce energy. There are many WTE technologies operating around the world.
Mass burn facilities (incinerators with air scubbers and other emission-cutting technologies) have been used in Europe for decades to create power from MSW. Newer technologies such as plasma gasification show potential to handle any waste stream in a clean and cost effective manner. On WTE, the NY Times reports that the US is way behind. (Click here for "Europe Finds Clean Energy in Trash, but U.S. Lags" -- The New York Times.)
The EPA believes that WTE can produce 5-10% of the nation's energy from 225 million tons of trash that Americans create each year (click here for the EPA report). Sewage sludge, medical waste and hazardous wastes can provide additional power. That's in addition to the economic stimulus from building and operating plants.
Only wastes that cannot be recycled are converted to energy. Paper, glass, metals and other recyclables would still be recovered from the waste stream. The rest is converted to energy instead of going to a landfill or other disposal site. Programs to reduce/reuse materials would continue.
Mass burn WTE facilities produce ash which can be recycled into concrete and other building products. Gasification technologies, such as plasma produce slag, rock wool, metals and others are sold for profit. Nothing goes to a landfill.
Unlike methane captured from a landfill, WTE captures the power directly from waste streams (without burying them). An EPA/NCSU study found that over ten times more energy is produced from WTE than from capturing methane gas from a landfill. (click here for: Is it Better to Burn or Bury Waste for Clean Electricity). Plus, unlike landfills, there’s no leakage for methane into the air.
The federal government defines MSW is a renewable energy source (Executive Order 13423, Section 9) Twenty-five states have made WTE facilities eligible for tax credits, rebates and renewable energy credits. North Carolina has not yet adopted this classification of waste streams.
WTE is a local solution to waste. Since entire operations -- including plants and distribution -- can be built on sites of 10 acres or less, WTE facilities can be built in industrial sites that are close to the towns and urban centers where waste is generated. Sites should have good access to the power grid and transportation (interstate highways) – and need not be placed in anyone’s backyard.
WTE is not new –nor is it an alternative to reduce, reuse or recycle – it’s an alternative to the disposal technologies that are compromising our environment and impacting rural and disenfranchised communities.
Rick Brandes, formerly of the EPA, issues a call for cooperation to embrace WTE along with other technologies for a sustainable future (click here for article)
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