Assessment of emission and ash management regulations - the European perspective

Conference · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:548928

Nilsson, K ^[1]

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1. ISWA WG on Thermal Treatment, Hjaerup (Sweden)

To reduce the impact on the environment, the emission requirements on waste incineration have increased rapidly in Europe during the last 10 years. Priority has been laid on the reduction of gas emissions. It is important to state that the regulatory requirements on air emissions differ a lot between the European countries. The Directives, approved by the European Community, EC, in 1989 are still being implemented. But, the EC member states are free to impose more stringent requirements than the EC Directive and some countries in the Central Europe: the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have done so. The situation during 1989-1992 could be characterized as a race between these countries in tightening the emission standards. The most conspicious are the extremely strict requirements introduced in the Netherlands in 1989. Those standards have confused and worried the operators and other parties in other European countries because of the risk that it might serve as a model for a new EC Directive. Efficient gas control does not mean that the harmful compounds disappear. They are to also be found in the residues from the gas cleaning. In Europe, there is a growing concern about the environmental consequences of ash disposal, especially the long term risk of leachate discharges. An increasing number of countries will no longer accept land disposal unless the residues are properly treated. The very strict standards on gas emissions in many countries will probably be followed by as strict requirements on the control of residues. This paper reports on the emission and ash management regulatory requirements for waste incineration in Europe and reviews the level of emission controls, current technologies and enforcement practices. The development of emission standards in different European countries during the last 10-15 years is illustrated as background. The adopted objectives and strategies are discussed and other means of control exemplified.

• Research Organization: Solid Waste Association of North America, Silver Spring, MD (United States); Air and Waste Management Association, Pittsburgh, PA (United States); Integrated Waste Services Association, Washington, DC (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States); American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Yonkers, NY (United States). Solid Waste Processing Div.; Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Air Pollution Technology Branch
• OSTI ID: 548928
• Report Number(s): CONF-970440--; ON: DE97007054
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ASHES
COMBUSTION
EUROPE
LEACHATES
MUNICIPAL WASTES
POLLUTION REGULATIONS