implementing the organics waste ban at the semass rrf
DESCRIPTION
Organics workshop- Implementing the Waste Ban: Daniel Peters from Covanta Energy shares the SEMASS RRF experience in adhering to the waste ban.TRANSCRIPT
Implementing the Organics Waste Ban at the SEMASS RRF
MassRecycle R3 Conference – March 19, 2013
Quick Facts about the SEMASS RRF• 3,000 tpd EfW -
Rochester, MA• Operating since
1989• 80 MW Clean,
Renewable Power (75,000 houses)
March 2013 2
• Big Role in 4th R: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover Energy from Waste
3rd “R” Efforts: Recycling
• Metal Recycling- ~ 35,000 tpy
• Recycling / SMRP Grant Contributions: $2.8 million-to-date (Class II RECs).
March 2013 3
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
- 5,000
10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000
SEMASS Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Recycling
Non-Ferrous
Ferrous
Year
Rec
laim
ed M
etal
s (T
on
s)
2010 2011 2012 $-
$500,000
$1,000,000
$1,500,000
$1,329,35
7
$527,515
$934,115
Covanta SEMASS SMRP Grant Contribution
Calendar Year
Co
ntr
ibu
tio
n
Organics Opportunity in SEMASS MSW
• 2010 SEMASS Waste Characterization Study - Organics:– 21.3% Overall
• Lesser % in “ICI” category (Ban)
• Higher % in residentialMarch 2013 4
Organic Waste (21.3%) Characterization
• Food Waste (14.4%)• Prunings / Trimmings / Leaves & Grass (2.7%)
< 1” diameter• Branches & Stumps (1.9%)
> 1” diameter• Remainder: Composite/ Organic (1.8%)• Manures (0.5%)
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Organics Waste Ban -- Challenges
• Safety is #1– Tipping Floor Hazards– DO NOT open bags !
• Can Organics be Identified?– Brush/leaves: Likely– Food Waste: Not sure
• Is it Banned or Not ?
• Failed Load Letters to Haulers/Customers– WB Fatigue?– Letter Fatigue
• Is the WB process reaching Generators?– Are they Aware? – Do they Care?
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Tip Floor Safety #1 Priority
Loaders vs. Personnel – Personnel “lose”
~200 Trucks per Day;
20-ft MSW piles typical
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6-ft
20-ft
Tip Floor Safety: DO NOT Open Bags for WB Inspections
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• Even “safety” Razor knives are hazardous– Slippery floor conditions– Heat & Cold stresses
• Bag Content hazards• All other hazards
(loaders, trucks, piles)
SEMASS Tip Floor - ID “Organics” Waste• ~5,500
tons MSW• Should be
~1,100 tons of organic waste
• High % of loads present
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A Closer View….
Can you see the Organics or Food Waste now?
10
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Highest % equal to Highest Visibility of the WB Material
Most Visible “Organic” category
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Highest % equal to Highest Visibility of the WB Material
Most Visible “Organic” category
WB Fatigue ?Add a 14th WB Category
Hundreds of WB Letters & Pages per Year
13
Conclusions• Organics Waste Ban can be implemented @
“downstream” SW Facilities but effectiveness unclear– Yard wastes most visible; food wastes not– More Waste Ban letters (Hauler/Customer fatigue)– Can’t ID organic waste from ICI (Banned portion)
• Suggest different “upstream” approach to better reach Generators and improve diversion %
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Policy Options: Is there much difference?
• Organics Waste to Anaerobic Digestion:– Digester Biogas;
combust to create renewable electricity
– Beneficial Reuse of most digester solids; dispose of non-useable residuals
• Organics Waste to EfW Facility:– Combust to create
renewable electricity (Class II Renewable)
– Beneficial Reuse of most ash (bottom); dispose of non-useable residuals (fly)
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