incineration: a poor solution for the twenty first century paul connett, phd paul connett, phd...

Incineration: Incineration: A Poor A Poor SolutionSolution

for the Twenty First for the Twenty First CenturyCentury

Paul Connett, PhDPaul Connett, PhDExecutive Director (AEHSP)Executive Director (AEHSP)

AmericanAmericanHealthHealthStudies.oStudies.orgrg

[email protected]

Flitwick (Bedfordshire), Oct 30, Flitwick (Bedfordshire), Oct 30, 20102010

mailto:[email protected]

Nicola Ryan-Raine

Slides 1 - 68

OUTLINEOUTLINE

1. A few words about Sustainability1. A few words about Sustainability

2. Arguments against incineration2. Arguments against incineration

3. The Zero Waste 2020 Strategy3. The Zero Waste 2020 Strategy

4. Zero Waste steps around the world4. Zero Waste steps around the world

5. Linking Zero Waste to Sustainability 5. Linking Zero Waste to Sustainability

6. Back to the Big Picture6. Back to the Big Picture

We are living on We are living on this planet as if this planet as if we had another we had another

one to go toone to go to

DIFFERENT TIMES DEMAND DIFFERENT TIMES DEMAND DIFFERENT QUESTIONSDIFFERENT QUESTIONS

2020thth CENTURY CENTURY

WASTE WASTE MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

“ “ How do we get rid How do we get rid of our waste of our waste

efficiently with efficiently with minimum damage to minimum damage to our health and the our health and the

environment ?”environment ?”

2121stst CENTURY CENTURY

RESOURCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

“ “ How do we handle our How do we handle our discarded resources in discarded resources in

ways which do not ways which do not deprive future deprive future

generations of some, if generations of some, if not all, of their value ?”not all, of their value ?”

DIFFERENT TIMES DEMAND DIFFERENT TIMES DEMAND DIFFERENT QUESTIONSDIFFERENT QUESTIONS

2020thth CENTURY CENTURY

WASTE WASTE MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

“ “ How do we get rid How do we get rid of our waste of our waste

efficiently with efficiently with minimum damage to minimum damage to our health and the our health and the

environment ?”environment ?”

2121stst CENTURY CENTURY

RESOURCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

“ “ How do we handle our How do we handle our discarded resources in discarded resources in

ways which do not ways which do not deprive future deprive future

generations of some, if generations of some, if not all, of their value ?”not all, of their value ?”

The key issueThe key issuewas SAFETYwas SAFETY

The key issue isThe key issue isSUSTAINABILIYSUSTAINABILIY

SustainabilitySustainability We would need We would need FOUR planetsFOUR planets if if

every one consumed as much as every one consumed as much as the average the average AmericanAmerican

We would need We would need TWO planetsTWO planets if if every one consumed as much as every one consumed as much as the average the average EuropeanEuropean

Meanwhile, Meanwhile, India, China etcIndia, China etc. are . are copying our consumption patternscopying our consumption patterns

Something has got to change and Something has got to change and the best place to start is with the best place to start is with wastewaste

Waste is the evidence that we are Waste is the evidence that we are doing something wrongdoing something wrong

Landfills Landfills BURYBURY the evidence the evidence

IncineratorsIncinerators BURNBURN the evidencethe evidence

We need to face the real We need to face the real problem…problem…

Our real task is to fight Our real task is to fight over-consumptionover-consumption

““The world has enough The world has enough for everyone’s for everyone’s needneedbut not for everyone’s but not for everyone’s greedgreed””

Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi

Not only is Not only is over-consumptionover-consumption

giving us a local waste giving us a local waste crisis crisis

but also…but also…

… … a Global crisis a Global crisis


Global warming is a symptom Global warming is a symptom


Global warming is a symptom Global warming is a symptom Over-consumption is the causeOver-consumption is the cause

The Global Crisis:The Global Crisis:

Since the Industrial Since the Industrial Revolution Revolution we have we have imposed a imposed a linear societylinear society on a planet that on a planet that functions in circlesfunctions in circles

A LINEAR SOCIETYA LINEAR SOCIETY

Extraction Extraction


Extraction Extraction ProductionProduction


Extraction Extraction ProductionProductionConsumptionConsumption


Extraction Extraction ProductionProductionConsumptionConsumption WasteWaste


Extraction Extraction ProductionProductionConsumptionConsumption WasteWaste

Advertising/TVAdvertising/TV

Over-advertisingOver-advertisingproducesproducesOver-consumptionOver-consumption

By the time a high schoolstudent leaves school, he or she

will have watched over350,000 TV commercials.

Paul Hawken The Ecology of Commerce.

MythMyth versus versus RealityReality

THE MYTH:THE MYTH: The more you consume the The more you consume the

happier you becomehappier you become THE REALITY:THE REALITY: The more you consume the fatter The more you consume the fatter

you become!you become! And the more waste you produceAnd the more waste you produce

ManMan

Modern Man!Modern Man!

Extraction ofExtraction ofVirginVirgin

MaterialsMaterials

Production ofProduction ofManufacturedManufactured

itemsitemsConsumptionConsumption

DiscardedDiscardedMaterialsMaterials

Solid wasteSolid waste

Air pollutionAir pollution

Water pollutionWater pollution

Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide





ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY



MaterialsMaterials













GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING



MaterialsMaterials














How do waste management How do waste management practices affect this picture?practices affect this picture?


MaterialsMaterials













LANDFILLSLANDFILLS



MaterialsMaterials













INCINERATION INCINERATION



MaterialsMaterials














RECYCLING OF MATERIALSRECYCLING OF MATERIALS


MaterialsMaterials














REUSE OF OBJECTSREUSE OF OBJECTS


MaterialsMaterials














COMPOSTINGCOMPOSTING

COMPOSTCOMPOST

Kg Greenhouse gas/tonne Kg Greenhouse gas/tonne Municipal WasteMunicipal Waste

A combination of recycling A combination of recycling and compostingand composting -461-461

Incineration generating Incineration generating electrictyelectricty -10-10

Waste Management Options and Climate Change. AEA 2001

Kg Greenhouse gas/tonne Kg Greenhouse gas/tonne Municipal WasteMunicipal Waste

A combination of recycling A combination of recycling and composting and composting is 46 times is 46 times betterbetter

-461-461

at reducing greenhouse at reducing greenhouse gases thangases than X 46X 46Incineration generating Incineration generating electrictyelectricty -10-10

Waste Management Options and Climate Change. AEA 2001

Energy Comparison: Energy Comparison: RecyclingRecycling versus versus incinerationincineration (ICF consulting, 2005)(ICF consulting, 2005)

materialmaterial Energy Energy savings from savings from recyclingrecycling

GJ/tonneGJ/tonne

Energy Energy output from output from incinerationincineration

GJ/tonneGJ/tonne

Energy Energy savings savings recycling recycling

versus versus incinerationincineration

NewsprintNewsprint 6.336.33 2.622.62 2.42.4

Fine Fine paperpaper

15.8715.87 2.232.23 7.17.1

CardboarCardboardd

8.568.56 2.312.31 3.73.7

Other paperOther paper 9.499.49 2.252.25 4.24.2

HDPEHDPE 64.2764.27 6.306.30 10.210.2

PETPET 85.1685.16 3.223.22 26.426.4Other Other plasticplastic

52.0952.09 4.764.76 10.910.9

Incineration is not Incineration is not sustainablesustainable

• Incineration does not challenge Incineration does not challenge the the over-consumptionover-consumption of finite of finite resources.resources.

• Every time we burn something we Every time we burn something we have to return to the beginning of have to return to the beginning of the extraction, manufacture and the extraction, manufacture and consumption system.consumption system.

• Incineration wastes energyIncineration wastes energy• Incineration wastes the Incineration wastes the

opportunity to really fight global opportunity to really fight global warmingwarming

• IN SHORT: Incineration sabotages IN SHORT: Incineration sabotages genuine moves towards genuine moves towards sustainabilitysustainability

2. OTHER 2. OTHER arguments arguments against incinerationagainst incineration

1) It is a poor economic investment 1) It is a poor economic investment

2) Very few jobs created for very large 2) Very few jobs created for very large capital investmentcapital investment

3) It wastes valuable time3) It wastes valuable time

4) It is very inflexible and stifles 4) It is very inflexible and stifles innovationinnovation

5) It generates a toxic ash 5) It generates a toxic ash

OTHEROTHER arguments arguments against incineration against incineration (continued)(continued)6) It doesn’t get rid of landfills6) It doesn’t get rid of landfills

7) It 7) It produces toxic air emissionsproduces toxic air emissions8) Incineration is poorly and 8) Incineration is poorly and

unscientifically monitoredunscientifically monitored

9) There is a far better 9) There is a far better and sustainable and sustainable alternativealternative

1. Incineration is a 1. Incineration is a poor investmentpoor investment• Much of the money spent on Much of the money spent on

incinerators goes into complicated incinerators goes into complicated machinery and leaves the community machinery and leaves the community (and even the country)(and even the country)

• Over half the money spent on a modern Over half the money spent on a modern incinerator goes into air pollution incinerator goes into air pollution control equipmentcontrol equipment

• Incineration (without massive Incineration (without massive subsidies) is one of the most expensive subsidies) is one of the most expensive ways of generating electricityways of generating electricity

2. Incineration creates 2. Incineration creates very few jobsvery few jobs

An incinerator in Brescia, An incinerator in Brescia, ItalyItaly

The Brescia incinerator The Brescia incinerator cost cost 300,000,000300,000,000 Euro Euro and has created just and has created just 8080 jobs. jobs.

The Brescia incinerator The Brescia incinerator cost cost 300,000,000300,000,000 Euro Euro and has created just and has created just 8080 jobs. jobs.Another 500,000,000 Another 500,000,000 Euros of taxpayers Euros of taxpayers money spent on so money spent on so called “alternative called “alternative energy”energy”

• In contrast, the money In contrast, the money spent on the spent on the alternatives goes into alternatives goes into jobs and stays in the jobs and stays in the community.community.

Nova Scotia program (Canada)Nova Scotia program (Canada)

Diverted 50% of waste from landfill Diverted 50% of waste from landfill in 5 years (Halifax ~ 60%)in 5 years (Halifax ~ 60%)

1000 jobs created 1000 jobs created in collection and in collection and treatment of recyclables and treatment of recyclables and compostablescompostables

Another 2000 jobs created Another 2000 jobs created in the in the industries handling the recovered industries handling the recovered materialsmaterials

3. Incineration wastes 3. Incineration wastes valuable time!valuable time! It takes about 25 years (or It takes about 25 years (or

more) to pay off the massive more) to pay off the massive capital investment costs capital investment costs involved with building an involved with building an incinerator.incinerator.

We don’t have 25 years to We don’t have 25 years to waste on a non-sustainable waste on a non-sustainable solution!solution!

4. 4. Incineration stifles Incineration stifles innovationinnovation

• ““An incinerator needs to be fed An incinerator needs to be fed for about 20 to 30 years and in for about 20 to 30 years and in order to be economic needs an order to be economic needs an enormous input from quite a enormous input from quite a region, so for 20 to 30 years you region, so for 20 to 30 years you stifle innovation, you stifle stifle innovation, you stifle alternatives, just in order to feed alternatives, just in order to feed that monster which you build”that monster which you build”

• Ludwig Kraemer, former Head of EU Waste Ludwig Kraemer, former Head of EU Waste Management, BBC 1 Panorama Documentary Management, BBC 1 Panorama Documentary “Rubbish”“Rubbish”

5. Incinerators 5. Incinerators produce a toxic ashproduce a toxic ash

For everyFor every fourfour tons of tons of waste burned you getwaste burned you get one ton of ash (or more)one ton of ash (or more)

That nobody wants!That nobody wants!

CHUTE

SECONDARYCHAMBER

TURBINE

BOILER

ELECTRICITY

STEAM

TRASH

BOTTOM ASH FLY ASH

TEMP< 200oC

SEMI-DRYSCRUBBER

FABRIC FILTER

WET SCRUBBER

DE-NOX

ACTIVATEDCHARCOAL

Ca(OH) 2 SUSPENSION

AMMONIAINJECTION

GRATES

For every 4 tons of trash you get about one ton of ashFor every 4 tons of trash you get about one ton of ash

90%90% 10%10%

Ash is toxic and Ash is toxic and difficult to get rid ofdifficult to get rid of

In Germany & Switzerland In Germany & Switzerland fly ashfly ash put into nylon bags and placed in put into nylon bags and placed in salt minessalt mines

In Japan some incinerators vitrify In Japan some incinerators vitrify the ashthe ash

In Denmark…In Denmark… They send all the ash to Norway!They send all the ash to Norway!

6. Incineration does 6. Incineration does not get rid of landfillsnot get rid of landfills

You still need a landfill You still need a landfill for the toxic ash for the toxic ash

7. Incinerators put many highly 7. Incinerators put many highly toxic and persistent substances toxic and persistent substances

into the airinto the air

AIR EMISSIONS

CO2 + H2O

ACID GASES:HCI, HF, SO2

NOx

AIR EMISSIONS

CO2 + H2O


NOx

TOXIC METALS:Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr etc

AIR EMISSIONS

CO2 + H2O


NOx


NEW COMPOUNDSNEW COMPOUNDS::

PCDDs (DIOXINS)PCDDs (DIOXINS)PCDFs (FURANS)PCDFs (FURANS)PCB’sPCB’sETCETC

AIR EMISSIONS

CO2 + H2O


NOx


NEW COMPOUNDSNEW COMPOUNDS::

PCDDs (DIOXINS)PCDDs (DIOXINS)PCDFs (FURANS)PCDFs (FURANS)PCB’sPCB’sETCETC

NANONANOPARTICLESPARTICLES

Size of Size of Particle Particle

regulatedregulatedin incineratorin incinerator

emissionsemissionsNANOPARTICLESNANOPARTICLES

Incineration, Incineration, nanoparticles & Healthnanoparticles & Health

Statement of EvidenceStatement of Evidence

Particulate Emissions and Health Particulate Emissions and Health ProposedProposed

Ringaskiddy Waste-to-Energy FacilityRingaskiddy Waste-to-Energy Facility

Professor C. Vyvyan Howard Professor C. Vyvyan Howard MB. ChB. MB. ChB. PhD. FRCPath. PhD. FRCPath. June 2009 June 2009

[email protected]@googlemail.com

Incineration andIncineration and nanoparticles nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are not Nanoparticles are not efficiently captured by air efficiently captured by air pollution control devicespollution control devices

Travel long distancesTravel long distances Remain suspended for long Remain suspended for long

periods of timeperiods of time Penetrate deep into the lungsPenetrate deep into the lungs

BLOODBLOOD

Nano particles are Nano particles are so small theyso small they

can easily crosscan easily cross the lung membranethe lung membrane

Nano PathologyNano Pathology

Once nanoparticles Once nanoparticles have entered the have entered the bloodstream they bloodstream they can easily cross the can easily cross the membranes of membranes of every tissue in the every tissue in the body.body.

Nano PathologyNano Pathology

They can even cross the blood They can even cross the blood brain barrierbrain barrier

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incineration: a poor solution for the twenty first century paul connett, phd paul connett, phd...

Documents

waste slide

symptom slide

cause slide

sustainabiliy slide

overconsumption slide

waste steps

real problem slide

big picture slide