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115 <br />Comprehensive Review of <br />Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Options <br />Exhibit 12 -19. Advantages and Disadvantages to Waste Processing <br />Technologies <br />Process <br />Advantages <br />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 <br />Provide higher quality recy fables <br />Lack of market for compost <br />Biological — Aerobic <br />Proven, "low" tech. Emissions less of a <br />concern, <br />Some odor; Lack of market for <br />compost, low conversion <br />Biological — Anaerobic <br />Low emissions, low odor <br />Lack of market for compost <br />Plasma Gasification <br />Potential for high power production, high <br />conversion <br />Untested, possibly high O &M costs, <br />safety concerns, slag market ( ?) <br />Bio- Chemical (Hydrolysis) <br />Fuel production, biosolids processing <br />Untested, treats only cellulosic part of <br />waste <br />WTE Plant <br />Proven large -scale technology <br />Large volumes of unusable ash, costly <br />air emission control systems <br />12.7 RECOMMENDATIONS TO POSITION 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 MITE 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 <br />v2.1 1 8i 10/22/12 <br />