Waste-to-energy: What are the issues?
- Environmental Futures, Inc., Boston, MA (United States)
It is very difficult to have been associated with the Waste-to-Energy ({open_quotes}WTE{close_quotes}) Industry during the past twelve months without feeling a profound sense of being under attack and more than a little shell shocked. That is not to say that scrutiny and regulation haven`t been an important factor for WTE from its inception, only that it seems that certain difficult issues have been thrust to the fore through the recent actions of the courts and regulatory agencies. While ash management and flow control hit center stage with a flourish in a one-two punch last Spring with the Supreme Court in the City of Chicago and Carbone decisions, significant compliance issues still remain with respect to implementing the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 ({open_quotes}CAAA{close_quotes}). In my state, the long term plans for waste management have WTE facilities responsible for turning 50% of the total waste stream into electricity, with other recycling accounting for all but 4% of the rest. With similar reliance upon WTE facilities elsewhere, it is critical that cost effective ways of managing these issues be found. Beyond these primarily regulatory and legal issues, there are also numerous challenges in the marketplace with increased reliance on recycling and the normal ebb and flow of the business cycle. Finally, there are always issues, including those already mentioned, which are best addressed in the political arena. Working together as an industry and regulated community will be essential if we are to make progress in addressing many of our challenges.
- OSTI ID:
- 96128
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950166-; TRN: 95:005788-0015
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: U.S./Canadian Federation solid waste management conference, Washington, DC (United States), 17-20 Jan 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 1995 US/Canadian federal solid waste management conference; PB: 402 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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