What Is the Waste-to-Energy Incinerator?

Like so many other counties in the United States, Frederick County, Maryland, has had an ongoing problem with trash (also referred to as solid waste). The bottom line is that we make too much of it, and we are quickly running out of options for how to deal with it. Currently, Frederick County operates its own waste transfer station (landfill) but also ships much of our additional waste to a mega landfill in Virginia. With the rising costs of fuel, the latter has resulted in increased costs to the county. These two options are neither cost effective nor sustainable.

Over the last few years, several options have emerged for combating the ongoing problem of excess waste in the county. Possible solutions have included implementing a single-stream recycling program, encouraging businsses to recycle (they are a major part of the waste stream), and building a waste-to-energy incinerator, expanding the current landfill or buying property for a new landfill. (A new landfill is needed for incineration to store the ash.) On April 28, 2009, the board voted to research the anaerobic digestion process, which is environmentally friendly. However, they voted 3-2 on June 23, 2009, to go forward with the incinerator plans even though they did not wait for research on this alternative. Carroll County, who is speculated to absorb 40% of the cost, has not signed the contract with Frederick County yet. Even if that is done, there would be a two-year process of permitting, and the next BOCC could overturn the incineration decision. Please urge them to reconsider anaerobic digestion as an alternative!

The incinerator certainly does not fit into the county's solid waste management plan; "A Crossroads for Clean Energy Proposal (PDF)"; the establishment of the Office of Sustainability for a "sustainable community, a happy community, living within our means and providing an environment where we can prosper" (also see letter to Maryland Clean Energy Center, PDF); or the mission statement of the Board of County Commissioners:

To preserve and enhance the quality of life for all citizens by ensuring optimum services, open government, and creative use of community resources.

How the waste-to-energy process works

While the specific processes vary, there is broad method for how to get energy from trash. Essentially, solid waste is burned or otherwise combusted. During the combustion phase, heat is generated. That heat is then typically transferred to a boiler where the heat converts water into steam, which in turn rotates a turbine, thereby generating electricity.

Proposal

The Frederick Board of County Commissioners, as of June 23, voted 3-2 to move forward with the 526-page proposal for the construction of a waste-to-energy facility located within Frederick County. While the cost of the facility is planned to be shared by Carroll County, the specific cost to Frederick County residents is still undetermined. (Click here to see questions sent in to the BOCC by residents.)

Current projections range from $325- to $615 million dollars for the cost of constructing and operating such a facility. However, technology constantly changes, as do operational and environmental standards. How much more will it cost us to keep up with these standards? Some uogrades can cost millions of dollars.

The McKinney site, 4510 Metropolitan Court, was chosen as the incinerator site. Other possible locations for a waste to energy facility included (click here to view a map of the county with proposed sites):

More information on the proposed waste-to-energy incinerator


 

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