Orange County NC Website
<br /> Comprehensive Revie w of <br /> S olid W aste Collection and Disposal Options <br /> <br /> <br />v2.1 181 10/22/12 <br />Exhibit 12 -19. Advantages and D isadvantages to Waste Processing <br />Technologies <br />Process Advantages Disadvantages <br />Thermal – Pyrolysis / <br />Gasification <br />Potential for high power production, high <br />conversion <br />Untested, possibly high O&M costs, <br />ash disposal <br />Thermal – Autoclave Provide higher quality recyclables Lack of market for compost <br />Biological – Aerobic Proven, “low” tech. Emissions less of a <br />concern. <br />Some odor; Lack of market for <br />compost, low conversion <br />Biological – Anaerobic Low emissions, low odor Lack of market for compost <br />Plasma Gasification Potential for high power production, high <br />conversion <br />Untested, possibly high O&M costs, <br />safety concerns, slag market (?) <br />Bio-Chemical (Hydrolysis) Fuel production, biosolids processing Untested, treats only cellulosic part of <br />waste <br />WTE Plant Proven large-scale technology Large volumes of unusable ash, costly <br />air emission control systems <br /> <br />12.7 RECOMMENDATIONS TO P OSITION THE TOWN FOR <br />POTENTIAL WTE AND WC TECHNOLOGIES <br />As the Town moves forward on its strategic planning initiative, SCS makes the following <br />recommendations to help position the Town with relation to WTE and WC technologies: <br /> Many of the WTE and WC (thermal) technologies appear to be cost prohibitive with <br />the current and projected MSW waste flow of the Town. The capital and pre- <br />processing costs of these technologies, at the current time, appear to be cost <br />prohibitive to reasonably recover the initial necessary investments compared to other <br />solid waste management alternatives. It is our opinion, therefore, that regional efforts <br />will be necessary to secure the desired waste flow to provide economies of scale for <br />these technologies. <br /> Consequently, we would recommend that the Town implement a “wait and see <br />approach” as for WTE and WC (Thermal) technologies offered in the U.S. <br />marketplace. As noted in this report, many of these technologies are currently <br />unproven on the commercial scale in the United States. However, firms like <br />Entsorga, Harvest Power, and Plasco are rapidly progressing in finalizing plans to <br />commercialize their technology. Construction and subsequent observation of these <br />plants will provide much needed detailed capital and operating information to support <br />the Town’s decision making. <br /> Based on its projected economy of scale and initial investment requirements, the WC <br />technology that may be most applicable to the Town, at this time, would be anaerobic <br />digestion. This technology has proven to be successful in the processing of organics <br />and MSW both in Europe, and now in North America at the waste flow level <br />generated by the Town. The technology allows for scalability if other neighboring