Clean Power from Burning Trash

Abstract

This study presents an overview of distinctive features of America’s first new waste-to-energy plant, which is a source of renewable energy and reduces greenhouse gas emission. With combustion and air pollution equipment designed and supplied by The Babcock & Wilcox Co. (B&W), the new facility addresses the pollution and cost issues that stopped municipalities from building waste-to-energy plants. It eliminates the burial of problematic wastes that routinely emit tons of volatile organic compounds and problematic chemicals. Waste-to-energy plants produce lower net greenhouse gas emissions than any landfill option. Not only do they displace fossil fuels to produce electricity, but also they effectively eliminate methane landfill emissions by burning the biodegradable landfill waste that forms methane. Test results show that the facility’s emissions are, at their maximum, an order of magnitude lower than those limits. This makes it the best in class of any waste-to-energy plant in the world. Waste-to-energy plants give municipalities facing rising landfill costs an economically and environmentally sound alternative to consider.