“939” organic materials future flows to landfills? rice straw from burning phase-outs other...
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“939” ORGANIC MATERIALS
FUTURE FLOWS TO LANDFILLS?
• Rice straw from burning phase-outs
• Other agricultural residuals?
• Waste from logging, wood processing
• Biomass-to-energy feedstocks
GASIFICATION
• “Cooks” feedstock at high temps
• No combustion• Yields gases that
are turned into electricity
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
• Bacteria “digest” feedstocks
• Yields gases and residues
• Gases into electricity
• Residues into fertilizer
HYDROLYSIS
• Breaks feedstocks into sugars, then “brews” products
• Uses acid or enzymes• Yields ethanol, citric
acid, other products
FEEDSTOCKS
• Mostly cellulose-based = plant material– Organic part of solid waste (wood, yard, etc.)– Low-grade paper part of solid waste– Ag and forest residues– Some also can take plastics
• Each technology needs certain characteristics• Which feedstocks best for which technologies?
BENEFITS
• Diversion beyond 50%• New energy, fuel, and industrial products• Reduced environmental impacts
– Need lifecycle analyses, operating plants to confirm
• If co-located at MRF, reduced transportation and siting impacts
• Local economic development• Less dependence on external energy sources
COMMERCIAL FACILITIES THAT USE SOLID WASTE
• Australia – Brightstar gasification • Ontario, Canada – Canadian Compost Inc.
anaerobic digestion • New York – Masada hydrolysis (under
construction)
BRIGHTSTAR - GASIFICATION
• Woolagong, Australia
• Uses post-recycled solid waste
• Operational early 2001
• Designed for about 75,000 tons per year
• Produces 10 megawatts currently
• Permitted by New South Wales EPA– 2-year trial license
CANADIAN COMPOST INC. -ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
• Newmarket, Ontario
• Uses mixed solid waste that is then separated
• Operational in 2000
• Designed for 150,000 tons per year
• Produces 5 megawatts + fertilizer
MASADA - HYDROLYSIS
• Middletown, New York
• Will use post-recycled solid waste + biosolids
• Under construction
• Designed for about 200,000 tons per year
• Will yield 9 million gals. ethanol + gypsum
CALIFORNIA FACILITIESUSING SOLID WASTE
NONE!!NONE!!
CIWMB CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY FORUM
• May 3-4, 2001 in Sacramento
• About 160 participants
• Objectives:– shared understanding– diverse opinions– initial recommendations
ISSUES/BARRIERS
• Lack of political leadership• Statutory constraints• Lack of funding• Economics and markets • Lack of data• Feedstock access• Public perception & understanding• Regulatory
CIWMB BOARD ACTIONS
• May 2001: Directed work in 5 areas:– Interagency coordination– Follow-up workshops/symposia– Leveraging Fed/State $$– Proposals for small-scale grants and lifecycle
analysis research– Assist applicants in permit process
• October 2001: Contract $$
CIWMB STRATEGIC PLAN
• Conversion technologies could be major tool towards zero waste
• Strategic Plan Goals & Objectives– Environmentally preferable technologies
– Promoting new technologies and processes
– Alternative means of diversion, including technologies that result in electricity and fuel
WORKSHOPS & OUTREACH
• Presentations to RCRC, Western SWANA, League of Cities, SCAG, LEA Conf., others
• Surveyed 80 local governments, 20 vendors• CRRA - July 2002
– 3-hour session on lifecycle costs/benefits
• SWANA - October 2002– Workshop + vendor trade show
• RMDZ Investors Forum -- TBD• Renewable Fuels Assoc. Ethanol Conf. – Feb 02
INTERAGENCY COORDINATION
• California Energy Commission– Public Interest Energy Research Program
• Office of Planning and Research • California Dept. Forestry • Technology, Trade, & Commerce Agency• U.S. Forest Service• U.S. Dept. of Energy• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
FUNDING
• Seeking $$ for R&D grants, lifecycle analyses• Seeking project financing from agencies
– Energy Commission, US Dept. of Energy, etc.
• Board contract $$ approved Oct 2001– Will support outreach events and some initial
technology comparisons
ASSISTING PROPOSED PROJECTS
• Some want $$, most want permit assistance• Gasification - Riverside Co.
– County RFP
• Gasification - Orange Co. – Considering MRF co-location
• Hydrolysis - southern California– Would produce ethanol
• Anaerobic digestion - Los Angeles– Co-locate at landfill, power to city?
PERMIT ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS
• Questions about process and time– since no facilities in California yet
• Goal: link local and State permitting entities and coordinate process
• Working with Cal/EPA Permit Assistance• Siting issues:
– Local zoning and planning– Environmental justice – Air quality– Transportation
REGULATORY ANDPERMITTING ISSUES
• CIWMB regs cover some aspects, not others– Gasification in “transformation,” needs full permit
– Hydrolysis not defined, so no permit?
– Anaerobic digestion in composting regs, needs permit based on size and feedstock
• How to ensure up-front recycling & diversion programs are not impaired
REGULATORY ANDPERMITTING ISSUES
• Staff workshop January 2002• Background paper on current framework• Solicit external stakeholder feedback• Types of questions:
– Should conversion technologies be defined separately from transformation?
– How should they be regulated?
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