DEP seeks comments on revised solid waste plan

A revised solid waste master plan issued by the Department of Environmental Protection on Dec. 13 would modify the moratorium on municipal solid waste combustion.

The DEP plans to pilot the use of new technologies, such as gasification, which heats organic materials at an extremely high temperature, converting the waste into synthetic gas, which can then be used for fuel.

The moratorium on solid waste combustion would remain in place for new facilities.

Additional gasification capacity would be limited – just 350,000 tons per year. The technology, however, has the potential to become a new renewable energy source, along with solar and wind.

In April, the Taunton City Council heard a proposal from Interstate Waste Technologies, which operates seven gasification facilities in Japan. Taunton’s landfill is set to close in 2015.

Proposed projects would have to meet stringent recycling, emissions and energy-efficiency standards. New facilities would be subject to the same site assignment rules as other facilities.

The DEP is accepting comments on the moratorium in the revised solid waste plan through Feb. 15. Comments should be sent to John Fischer at MassDEP, 1 Winter St., Boston, MA 02108, or dep.swm@state.ma.us.