Waste to Energy (WTE) Conversion In the US

MSW composition can vary significantly across regions, and even by individual communities. For example, suburban communities may have a larger percentage of yard trimmings in their waste streams, while communities with significant manufacturing industries will generate a greater percentage of industrial waste. MSW composition can change over time, as waste reduction and recycling efforts increase, and as consumer behaviors and preferences evolve.

Commercial waste constitutes over 50% of the MSW in America and is subject to regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. Businesses are responsible for managing their waste and ensuring compliance with these regulations. This includes proper waste storage, labeling and disposal. Failure to comply with waste management regulations can result in significant monetary penalties and reputational damage.

Some recent commercial waste management compliance violations in the US include,

1. In 2018, Amazon agreed to pay a $1.2 million fine to settle allegations that the company violated California’s hazardous waste laws. The state alleged that Amazon had shipped hazardous materials to warehouses that were not authorized to handle such materials.
2. In 2019, Republic Services, one of the largest waste management companies in the US, was fined $725,000 for violating air pollution regulations by failing to control odors from their California’s Contra Costa County landfill.
3. In 2019, Boeing was fined $12 million for violations of hazardous waste management laws at its facilities in California for improperly storing and disposing of hazardous waste, including chromium, lead and cadmium.
4. In 2020, Waste Management Inc. agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle allegations of illegally disposing of hazardous waste to landfills in California that weren’t authorized to receive them.
5. In 2021, GEM Mobile Treatment Services, another hazardous waste disposal company, was fined by the State of Massachusetts $625,000 for violations of hazardous waste including the storage and transport of hazardous waste without the required permits, and failing to properly label and package the waste.

To avoid damage to their reputations and significant financial penalties, it is imperative for businesses to assure compliance to applicable waste management laws and regulations. They can also take advantage of WTE conversion technologies, both on-site and as a front-end supplier of the materials for the process. The US Department of Energy WTE from Municipal Solid Waste report highlights the government’s efforts to improve the current methodologies and develop the next generation of WTE facilities.

Currently there are 4 types of closed-loop processes for WTE conversions.

1. Anaerobic digestion uses microorganisms to break down organic waste and produce “biogas” that can be used to generate electricity or heat, with the leftover digestate converted into fertilizers.
2. Gasification converts solid waste into gas that can be used to generate electricity or heat with the resulting solid residue used as a construction material.
3. Plasma Gasification uses high temperatures and plasma to generate fuel from solid waste with the residue also used as a construction material.
4. Pyrolysis is another process that uses high temperatures to generate fuels from solid waste that also generates a residue utilized as a construction material.

WTE conversion varies significantly between the US and the rest of the world in adoption and implementation. As of 2020, the US primarily uses incineration and anaerobic digestion technologies for WTE conversions, while other countries also use pyrolysis and gasification.

Generally WTE conversions are more popular in Asia and Europe than the US. China has a WTE capacity of 40.7 GW as of 2019, which is over 17 times larger than the US. Japan has a 5.7 GW capacity as of 2019. China and Japan primarily use incineration technology for the conversion process. Germany uses all the 4 known techniques, and has Europe’s largest WTE conversion market with a capacity of 3.3 GW as of 2020. Sweden converts over 50% of its household waste entirely into clean energy using predominantly incineration for the conversion. The UK currently has a capacity of 2.2 GW, and has set a target to increase its conversion capacity to 6.5 GW by 2035.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA), notes that as of 2020,

• The US has a WTE conversion capacity of 2.3 GW.
• WTE facilities in the US generated about 14,208 GWh of electricity.
• Municipal Solid Waste accounted for about 96% of the total feedstock for US WTE conversions. Other feedstocks included industrial waste, construction and demolition waste, and non-hazardous medical waste.
• Florida, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts recorded the highest WTE conversion capacities in the country with 500 MW, 465 MW and 435 MW respectively.

Listed below are some companies in North America harnessing WTE conversions to reduce waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and generate clean energy.

1. Covanta – one of the largest WTE companies in the world, operating 44 centers in America and using incineration and anaerobic digestion of waste to generate electricity and steam.
2. Waste Management Inc. – one of the largest waste management companies in the US operating many centers using anaerobic digestion, landfill gas recovery and some other techniques to generate energy from waste.
3. WIN Waste Innovations – operating WTE facilities across many states in the US using a combination of incineration and landfill gas recovery technologies generating electricity and steam from waste, and recovering metals and other materials for recycling.
4. Enerkem – a WTE company operating a facility in Edmonton, Canada using gasification technologies to convert non-recyclable waste into chemicals and biofuels.
5. Phoenix Energy – a WTE company using plasma gasification technology for conversion, based out of Alexandria, Virginia, and planning for expansion in other states of the US.

The search for more sustainable energy production capacity continues unabated.  WTE has the potential to help address this demand while also reducing our dependency on landfills and other environmentally harmful waste disposal systems. Those seeking to invest in “green” technologies should take a serious look at the current and future prospects of WTE production.