The planning for energy and resource recovery from solid waste in the state of New York

Abstract

It is an example of a private enterprise working closely with a municipality to achieve a definite objective at the local level within the.legislation sponsored by the state government. Environmental effects of energy recovery from solid waste incineration are minimized because of the low sulfur content of the solid waste, when used as a fuel. Other positive contributions are: (1) reduction in fossil fuel use, (2) recovery of ferrous, aluminum and glass resources, (3) inert landfilling with a reduction in potential fire hazard and generation of methane gas, and (4) reduction in available land requirements for landfill sites. Data is given for other energy and resource recovery projects now planned or underway in New York State.

Solid waste variously referred to as "garbage", "trash", "debris", and "refuse" has become an important economic factor for two reasons: (l) the growing need of land for disposal and (2) the increasing demands for substitute fuels. Paper and plastics account for over half the percent composition of solid waste and are increasing in relative quantity. Since these two items account for most of the heating value the net effect is to increase the overall BTU value of the solid waste. During the early 1960's New York State began to plan for solid waste disposal and was reinforced nationally by the 1965 Solid Waste Disposal Act. Beginning with the first state-wide solid waste survey by Roy F. Weston in 1971, other studies have been made at the county level. The data derived from each of these studies should be interpreted in the light of the criteria developed by each of the consulting firms making the surveys. State-wide planning is simplified in the case of New York State because of the unique geographical formations of the lowlands and the bordering highlands. Approximately 95 percent of the solid waste is generated within 48.3 percent of the land area. This phenomenon was developed into the "Corridor" (low lying lake plains and rlver valleys), "Pocket" (southern tier counties), "Metropolitan" (New York City) and the "Island" (Long Island).

Of the available technologies for deriving fuel from solid waste two have been chosen for this current New York State plan: (1) cocombustion with fossil fuels and (2) water wall incineration. This plan strongly recommends that the total solid waste system either local or multicommunity be studied as the solid waste energy source for either of the two proposed systems. Toward this end a mathematical systems model was developed with three sub-systems: (1) OPTMDL (Optimization Model), (2) SYSMDL (Systems Model) and (3) ECOMDL (Economic or Funding Model). Beginning with OPTMDL the initialization of the solid waste source. and incineration is optimized through the relationship of haul and processing costs using primary haul only. Primary haul transports solid waste in the same vehicle used for collection. SYSMDL combines the collection, primary haul, secondary haul (through transfer to larger hauling vehicle), incineration and finally ultimate disposal in a sanitary landfill. ECOMDL and its second generation modification ECOMDL 2 model the economic relationships within the funding mechanism. A financial scheme, now being looked at for more widespread use, is leveraged leasing. In this system of financing the municipality acting for itself or for a group pf other municipalities floats the bond issue. An authority set up to handle the design, construction and operation reviews the funding. An annual lease payment to the funding community discharges the principal and interest on the debt.