Fundamental objectives of municipal solid waste incinerator ash management

Conference · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6947201

Denison, R A ^[1]

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1. Environmental Defense Fund, Washington, DC (US)

Recent data are discussed that corroborate earlier indications that municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator ash is hazardous. These data demonstrate that: ash contains high levels of several highly toxic metals, and can also contain dangerous levels of dioxins; certain of the metals -- lead and cadmium, in particular -- are readily leachable from ash at levels that frequently exceed the limits defining a hazardous waste; incineration concentrates and mobilizes the metals present in MSW, and can create dioxins, opening up several new pathways of exposure to these toxins; and ash is toxic when tested by several means in addition to the EP toxicity test. Each of these findings is especially evident for the fly ash component of MSW incinerator ash. Objectives for environmentally sound ash management are presented and discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6947201
• Report Number(s): CONF-880679--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
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& Safety
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOL WASTES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ASHES
CONTROL
ELEMENTS
ENERGY FACILITIES
FLY ASH
INCINERATORS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METALS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
POLLUTION CONTROL
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
REGULATIONS
REMOVAL
RESIDUES
RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES
TOXICITY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE PROCESSING PLANTS
WASTES