DAL Feb 2017

Waste to Energy – An Alternative to Landfill and a NOW Opportunity for NS

Presented by: Fourth State Energy Date: 24 February 2017

Nova Waste Solutions Inc.

Global Cost of Waste

• World Bank projects 70% global increase in urban solid waste – with developing countries facing the greatest challenge.

• Projected 1.3 billion T/yr. to 2.2 billion T/yr. by 2025

• Projected cost $205 billion to $375 billion.

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2012/06/06/report-shows-alarming-rise-in-amount-costs-of-garbage

Slide 9






Global Waste Reality

• Humans generate over 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually.

• 70% of MSW is transported to landfills, where it sits, decays, and releases a suite of environmental pollutants.

• 2.1 billion tons of MSW = approximately 24.5 quadrillion Btu of energy

• That’s enough heat to meet about 10% of global annual electricity consumption.

Energy Resources being thrown Away

• A recent European Economic Community (EEC) study found that:• If all MSW was diverted from landfill in 2011 to waste-to-energy

facilities: – Generate electricity to supply ~ 13.8 million households, or 12 percent

of the entire United States.• If just the non-recycled plastics in MSW were to be source-separated

and converted through today’s plastics-to-oil technologies into fuel oil:– Produce 135 million barrels of oil per year – or 5.7 billion

gallons of gasoline, enough to fuel 8.9 million cars• If we could convert non-recycled waste to alternative energy instead of

landfilling it:– Preserve > 6,000 acres of open space every year that would otherwise be

used to store garbage.

http://blog.americanchemistry.com/2014/07/new-study-highlights-significant-potential-to-recover-energy-from-waste-in-the-u-s/%23_edn1
















World’s largest landfill site in Mumbai, India.

NASA’s view from space of landfill fire in January 2016 2016

Slide 5

Nova Scotia Landfills

Slide 3

Kentville C&D Landfill Fire

Slide 4

Frequency of Landfill Fires

• “Landfill fires occur frequently. In the USA there are around 8300 fires per year, and in the UK around 300. With the potential for serious loss of life and dire environmental consequences,…”

Patrick Foss-Smith, 01.08.2010, https://waste-management-world.com/a/understanding-landfill-fires

• Recent landfill fires in NS & Canada:– Kentville, Otter Lake, Colchester, Chester, Fredericton,

Duncan BC, Delta Vancouver, Medicine Hat, Katepwa Regina, Kindersley Sask. etc….

Slide 6 Nova Waste Solutions Inc.

https://waste-management-world.com/a/understanding-landfill-fires

Landfill Fires & SWM Regulations

• “In attempting to reduce the volume of solid waste going into municipal landfills, many jurisdictions require that construction and demolition waste be separated from the municipal solid waste stream and be landfilled separately. What these policies did not anticipate, however, was the resulting increase in the number of landfill fires. In fact, 90 per cent of landfill fires occur in demolition, landfill and construction (DLC) waste sites.”

Tonia Jurbin, P.Eng, August 1, 2003 http://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/features/landfill-fires/


http://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/features/landfill-fires/



Statistical Risk of a Landfill Fire 60%

• “With the average landfill site having a 60% statistical risk of fire each year, it's critical that operators have an emergency plan in place. Immediate and decisive action can be the difference between a minor incident and a multi-million dollar environmental disaster.”

Patrick Foss-Smith, 14.08.2013,https://waste-management-world.com/a/cutting-the-risk-of-landfill-fires


https://waste-management-world.com/a/cutting-the-risk-of-landfill-fires



Climate Impact of Landfills

• Methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its global warming potential.

• Emissions from Canadian landfills account for 20% of national methane emissions.

• Estimates have shown that approximately 27 Mega-tonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (eCO2) are generated annually from Canadian landfills, of which 20 Mt eCO2 are being emitted annually.

Environment Canada - http://www.ec.gc.ca/gdd-mw

Nova Waste Solutions Inc.Slide 11

Landfill Methane GHG


NS Aligned with National Emissions

Waste represents 3-4% equivalent CO2 but its methane, the most harmful GHG!


SWM Jobs in NS


Most costly system components {organics, C&D, landfills} employ least number of people. New WTE processing facilities would offset the transfer of some jobs.

Slide 27

Global Waste Reality

• 70% of MSW goes to landfills to decay into leachate and GHGs.

• 2.1 billion tonnes of MSW = ~24.5 quadrillion Btu of heat/energy (10% global energy

http://www.thinkglobalgreen.org/wte.html




Where are we headed?

"Ten years from now the world’s rapidly increasing urban population will generate nearly 3 billion tons of MSW per year, representing an estimated 240GW of untapped energy potential." Senior Research Analyst Mackinnon Lawrence. https://www.thinkglobalgreen.org/wte.html

https://www.thinkglobalgreen.org/wte.html

https://www.thinkglobalgreen.org/wte.html

Of note: Not all WTE systems are created equal!


Advanced WTE – A Landfill Alternative

Incineration Plants

Slide 16


Incineration = Landfill Dependency


30% of original weight by volume toxic fly-ash and bottom- ash needs to go to Hazardous Waste Landfills

Slide 17

Plasma Gasification Plants


Plasma Gasification


Reduced or Eliminated Landfill Dependency!

Waste resources processed, recyclables removed, remaining resources shredded, dried and sent to gasifier.

There is a small quantity of bottom slag (glass and metal) which is recyclable and useable as a civil construction aggregate. Slide 19

This is glass slag residue from the gasification process which can be recycled and used in civil construction projects

What are the Differences between Plasma Gasification and Incineration

Plasma vs. Other Thermal Processes

Environmental Solution

“While some still confuse modern waste-to-energy plants with incinerators of the past, the environmental performance of the industry is beyond reproach. Studies have shown:• communities that employ waste-to-energy technology have higher

recycling rates than communities that do not utilize waste-to-energy. • recovery of ferrous and non-ferrous metals from waste-to-energy plants

for recycling is strong and growing each year. • numerous studies have determined that waste-to-energy plants actually

reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere.”Salman Zafar, Renewable Energy Expert

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/waste-renewable-energy-source/




Thermal Treatment Growth

According to a new report (Pike Research):• Waste-to-energy systems will treat at least 261

million tons of waste annually by 2022• Total estimated output of 283 terawatt hours

(TWh) of electricity and heat generation, (up from 221 TWh in 2010.)

• A more optimistic scenario, WTE will potentially treat 396 million tons of MSW a year, producing 429 TWh of power

The Gasification Industry

• 272 operating gasification plants worldwide with 686 gasifiers.

• 74 plants under construction worldwide that will have a total of 238 gasifiers and produce 83 MWth.

• 33 gasification plants in the US• China has the largest number of gasification plants.

{WWW, Gasification Technologies Council, The Gasification Industry, http://www.gasification.org/what-is-gasification/the-gasification-industry/, 1 MARCH, 2015.}

http://www.gasification.org/what-is-gasification/the-gasification-industry/

Europe & Asia Leading the Way

• Waste-to-energy has thrived in Europe and Asia as the preferred method of waste disposal.

• Promoting waste-to-energy for its ability to reduce the volume of waste in an environmentally-friendly manner, generate valuable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, European nations rely on waste-to-energy as the preferred method of waste disposal.

• In fact, the European Union has issued a legally binding requirement for its member States to limit the landfilling of biodegradable waste.

Europe Ahead of the Game

According to the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP):“Europe currently treats 50 million tonnes of waste at waste-to-energy plants each year, generating an amount of energy that can supply electricity for 27 million people or heat for 13 million people.”Salman Zafar, Renewable Energy Expert.

http://www.energyblogs.com/wte1

http://www.energyblogs.com/wte1

Global Plasma Gasification Plants

Plasma Gasification OpportunityAccording to the Georgia Institute of Technology: “Plasma gasification can create more renewable energy than the projected energy from solar, wind, landfill gas, and geothermal energies combined.”

WWW; Plasma Gasification Turns Waste-to-Energy; (ENERGYdigital); Green Tech - Jun 30, 2011; http://www.energydigital.com/greentech/1798/Plasma-Gasification-Turns-WastetoEnergy; 1 March, 2015.

http://www.energydigital.com/greentech

http://www.energydigital.com/greentech/1798/Plasma-Gasification-Turns-WastetoEnergy

FSE Technology Partner

• FSE is partnered with CHO-Power to build Plasma Gasification Systems across the globe

• CHO Power engineers, builds and operates Advanced Alternative Technology Process (AATP) power plants for MSW feedstock

http://www.cho-power.com/

The CHO Power Process

CHO Power Process Phases

Nova Scotia Waste Realm

Is it fiscally sustainable?


National Per Capita Cost Comparison

Nova Waste Solutions Inc.Stats Canada 2013Slide 24

NS Regulated MSW Report Card

• 1990s regulatory changes transformed SWM in NS with the objective of reducing environmental impacts of landfills.

• 20 years later:– $387.00 - Highest average per tonne operating cost in the

country (Stats Canada)– $82.39 - Highest per capita cost in Canada (Avg. $58.18)– $11.22 - Highest per capita cost for organics (5X Avg. of

$2.18)– 55-60% diversion - ongoing landfill dependency & legacy

environmental impacts of methane GHG and leachate– Escalating unsustainable municipal service program costs


What drives the costs?

• Regulated program policy of “banning materials from landfill” created materials management requirements without established market demand

• Absence of market demand did not support private investment in processing facilities resulting in public sector assuming responsibility for banned materials from both public and private/commercial sectors


A Case for Change

The MSW system transformation opportunity:• Advanced WTE is recognized as separate and

distinct from incineration.

• Advanced WTE is recognized as an alternative to landfill and incineration.

• Advanced WTE enables envisioned stewardship and reduced or eliminated landfill dependency.

Nova Waste Solutions Inc.Slide

28

Environmental Benefits

• Reduction/elimination of landfill dependency

• Immediate impact on reducing methane GHG/Carbon emissions

• Immediate impact on legacy landfill environmental issues

• Reduce transportation/hauling emissions

• Safe, clean processing of special and hazardous waste such as asbestos and contaminated sludge {Boat Harbour}

• Reduce health authority waste system costs by processing special waste travelling out of Province for incineration


Economic Benefits

• Reduce Municipal/Business SWM Service Program Costs by:– Consolidating 3, 4 or 5 waste streams to 2 or 3 (blue

recycling & green re-use for clean renewable energy and leaf and yard waste)

– Streamline collection systems using split trucks significantly reducing program costs & emissions

– Eliminate costly processing of materials with no market value

– Reduce business costs with fewer receptacles, less infrastructure, space and mess!

– Make the system easier & less costly for residents and businesses


What are the Nay Sayers Saying?

• Its Just incineration! – Science says otherwise• They don’t really work! – Literally 100s of

plants and why would people be building 74 more?

• The garbage is different there! – Garbage does vary, by season, habits and regions, but these systems can adapt to the variances.

• Its stepping backwards! – Total re-use or non-recyclable materials is good stewardship.

Where is the concern for WTE?

• Public would see it as a negative?– 2013 Survey data > 80% support WTE as a

landfill alternative (August,2013 by CRA, 526 metro residents over 18 were polled )

• Not environmental stewardship?– Empirical data shows improved environmental

outcomes, climate impact and recycling• Does not respect hierarchy of resource management

– Zero waste is (re) using resources completely without creating a negative. Waste in NS still ends up in landfills, isn’t WTE a better option?


Traditional Waste Pyramid

Environmental Resource Pyramid

Slide 11


No Landfill GHG or Leachate

So What is Zero Waste?

ZeroWasteAmerica.org defines zero-waste:

“zero-waste is the recycling of all materials back into nature or the marketplace in a manner that protects human health and the environment.”

http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/index.html



Questions?


DAL Feb 2017

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Transcript of DAL Feb 2017