Waste Incineration

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) otherwise known as trash or garbage consists of everyday items people commonly throw away. In order to reduce the amount of waste put into landfills, a process known as incineration or combustion is often used. Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the burning of organic substances converting the waste into ash, flue gas or heat. In some instances, the heat is then recovered and turned into energy using a variety of different waste-to-energy technologies (WTE). However, not only can the ash from incinerating MSW be toxic, but the air emissions from the facility seem to be the biggest concern. Toxic materials such as mercury, dioxins, and furans are often produced and emitted from these facilities. Thus, the prospect of hazardous byproducts from these facilities must be weighted heavily against the beneficial uses of waste-to-energy incinerators.

MEA COMMENTS ON PROPOSED GREEN BAY WASTE INCINERATOR

MEA submitted comments on behalf of the Door County Environmental Council to the federal Department of Energy on the scope of the Environmental Assessment to be prepared for a municipal waste incinerator/waste to energy project proposed to be located in Green Bay. Jerry Viste, DCEC;s Executive Director, said, "We all know that there are all sorts of hazardous materials in municipal waste, including mercury and other metals. There needs to be an adequate evaluation of what the impacts of the proposed facility will be on the area's air quality, on the waters of the Fox River and Green Bay, on the fish that live there, and whether alternatives like wind and solar power generation and improved recycling and reuse are better solutions to our energy and solid waste disposal needs. That's why we're asking for a thorough and objective environmental review."

MEA and Door County Environmental Council Comments on Proposed Green Bay Waste Incinerator to the Department of Energy

DNR Incompleteness Letter to Green Bay Waste Incinerator