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)

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• 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).

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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

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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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