Energy from Municipal Solid Waste: A Renewable Energy Source
White Paper Submitted to Congress by ASME SWPD

ASME SWPD Supports WTE - The Solid Waste Processing Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers supports national policies that encourage the recovery of energy from the controlled combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW), also called Waste to Energy (WTE).

Excerpts:
ASME SWPD Supports WTE - The Solid Waste Processing Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers supports national policies that encourage the recovery of energy from the controlled combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW), also called Waste to Energy (WTE).

Proven Technology - WTE is a proven, environmentally sound method that provides reliable electricity generation and sustainable disposal of post-recycling MSW. WTE technology is used extensively in Europe and other developed nations such as Japan.

WTE Reduces Greenhouse Gases - New policies to encourage WTE can have a sizable effect on reducing the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the Department of Energy has estimated that wider use of the WTE technology can become one of our nation’s four largest contributors to America’s planned carbon dioxide reductions, accounting for as much as 15 percent of the total.

WTE Reduces Dependence on Fossil Fuel - New policies to encourage WTE can also have a meaningful impact in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing renewable energy. Currently, the US WTE facilities provide more electricity than wind and solar combined by processing 28 million tons of waste. The nation currently landfills about 240 million tons of waste per year so there is significant potential to increase energy production from WTE. Every ton of MSW processed in a WTE facility avoids the mining of one half ton of coal or the importation of one barrel of oil. If all waste were processed in modern WTE facilities it could satisfy 3 to 4 percent of the country’s electricity demand.

Additional Environmental Benefits of WTE -

• Complements recycling and reduces land filling
• Preserves Greenfield land
• Reduces truck traffic and associated emissions
• Recovers and recycles metals thus reducing mining operations

WTE Provides Clean Energy – WTE technology has significantly advanced with the implementation of the Clean Air Act, dramatically reducing all emissions. The EPA concluded WTE now produces electricity with less environmental impact than almost any other source.

 Reliable Electricity – WTE offers two big advantages over other renewable electricity sources. It operates 24/7 to reduce base load fossil fuel generation and is located in populated areas where the power is needed the most.

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