Dealing with waste Part II - Incinerators

D18 Explain the short- and long-term impacts of landfills and incineration of waste materials on the quality of the environment.

Another option While much waste is deposited in landfills, there is another option Waste incineration

What is waste incineration?   Waste incineration is the destruction of waste in a furnace by controlled burning at high temperatures.   In the United States, 33.1 million tons of municipal solid waste are incinerated each year, with the highest combustion percentage being on the east coast (EPA, 2003).

How does this process work?   Modern waste to energy plants tend to be moving toward using grate incinerators   The waste is slowly propelled through the furnace by a moving mechanical grate, waste continuously enters at one end and the ash is discharged at the other.

Moving Grate Incinerators

What does incineration do?   Incineration removes water from hazardous sludge   Reduces the waste’s mass and/or volume   Converts waste to a non-burnable ash. – –The ash can be disposed of on land, in some waters, or in underground pits.

Benefits of this process   It generates energy from waste that would otherwise take up space in a landfill.   It reduces the amount of space taken up by the waste by reducing it to ash

What are short-term problems?   Incineration can produce carbon monoxide gas, gaseous dioxins, and/or other harmful substances.   This process is also noisy   This process generates fumes, which smell bad.

Long term problems with incineration   Pollutants from combustion are released into the atmosphere that would otherwise be contained.   Hazardous waste (ash) needs disposal.

Reading Assignment   Read the article, “Europe Finds Clean Energy in Trash, but U.S. Lags”   Respond to questions on worksheet.   Be prepared to discuss your responses in class