DEP proposes to modify incinerator moratorium

The Department of Environmental Protection last month closed a public comment period on its draft Solid Waste Master Plan, which would modify the municipal solid waste incinerator moratorium.

The draft plan would also increase recycling and boost enforcement of rules that prohibit materials such as construction debris and hazardous waste in the solid waste stream.

According to the DEP, the Solid Waste Master Plan attempts to help communities to increase composting by diverting food and organic wastes to compost and anaerobic digestion facilities. It also provides additional funds to support recycling and re-use programs.

The proposed modification of the incinerator moratorium would encourage the use of alternative technologies, such as gasification, for converting waste to energy or fuel under certain conditions.

Gasification uses high heat to convert non-recyclable wastes such as construction debris, tires, household trash, and sewage into gases – carbon monoxide, methane and hydrogen – which can then be used to produce electricity or as a substitute for natural gas and transportation fuels. Byproducts can be used in fertilizers.

Proposed gasification projects would have to meet stringent recycling, emissions and energy-efficiency standards, and new facilities would be subject to the same site assignment rules as other solid waste facilities. This modification would not change or lift the moratorium on the construction of new capacity for traditional combustion of municipal solid waste.

The DEP plans to publish a final plan and its responses to comments received on the 2010 draft plan as well as those received in this comment period on the moratorium section of the revised draft plan.

• Read MMA’s comments on proposed incinerator moratorium update