Organics workshop- Implementing the Waste Ban: Daniel Peters from Covanta Energy shares the SEMASS RRF experience in adhering to the waste ban.

1. Implementing the Organics Waste
Ban at the SEMASS RRF
MassRecycle R3 Conference – March 19, 2013

2. 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

3. 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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-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
ReclaimedMetals(Tons)
Year
SEMASS Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Recycling
Non-Ferrous
Ferrous
$1,329
$528
$934
$-
$500
$1,000
$1,500
2010 2011 2012
Contribution
Calendar Year
Covanta SEMASS SMRP Grant Contribution

4. Organics Opportunity in SEMASS MSW
• 2010 SEMASS
Waste
Characterization
Study - Organics:
– 21.3% Overall
• Lesser % in “ICI”
category (Ban)
• Higher % in
residential
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5. 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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6. 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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7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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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10. A Closer
View….
Can you see
the
Organics or
Food Waste
now?
10

11. March 2013 11
Highest
% equal
to Highest
Visibility
of the WB
Material
Most
Visible
“Organic”
category

12. March 2013 12
Highest
% equal
to Highest
Visibility
of the WB
Material
Most
Visible
“Organic”
category

13. WB Fatigue ?
Add a 14th WB Category
Hundreds of WB Letters &
Pages per Year
13

14. 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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15. 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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