A publication of Work On Waste USA, Inc., 82 Judson, Canton,
NY 13617 315-379-9200 June 14, 1990
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE: 500 TPD WHEELABRATOR INCINERATOR
EXCEEDING SULFUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS.
Known as the Penacook
incinerator, this Wheelabrator facility went on line in
August 1989. The Wheelabrator incinerator has exceeded
sulfur dioxide emission standards numerous times since last August,
according to the states Air Resources Division and the company
that operates the plant. The state knew about the problem as
early as last fall, but waited until this month to order Wheelabrator
Concord Company to reduce its emissions...Jack Glenn, an engineer
with the [states] Air Resources Division said the state
waited to issue the enforcement order because the company said
it was taking care of the problem. We fully expected them
to not have exceedences, Glenn said. But they continued,
and we decided in the end the steps they were taking werent
working. Under its state permit, the plant must either
emit no more than an average of 21 pounds of sulfur dioxide an
hour over 24 hours or remove 50 percent of the sulfur dioxide
through a liming process. Between August and the end of March,
one incineration unit exceeded these standards for 384 hours,
while the other was over for more than 53 hours...The state says
the company knew about the problems last fall, and took several
steps to modify the lime system before the first of the year.
But tests in January, February and March showed both units still
exceeded the standards for a total of 180 hours. [Wheelabrator
spokesman Kevin Stickney] said the main problem is not the lime
system but the amount of sulfur in the waste. He said materials
like demolition debris, particularly gypsum board, contains high
levels of sulfur that cause the high sulfur dioxide emissions...Stickney
said removing high sulfur wastes before they are burned will be
the best way to reduce emissions...The state has not discussed
whether to penalize the company for the violations, said Dennis
Lunderville, director of the Air Resources Division. Sulfur dioxide
is one of the primary causes of acid raid, and for years New England
states have fought for strict controls on sulfur dioxide emissions
on power plants in the Midwest that use high sulfur coal...
Concord Monitor, NH, 5-25-90.
HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK
2,319 tpd mass-burn incinerator
Owned & Operated by AMERICAN REF-FUEL
Start up: April 9, 1989
TIP FEE:
$79 per ton for Town of Hempstead
Imported Waste: $10 - $22 less per tip fee ton
Though the nameplate capacity of this Am-Ref Fuel incinerator
is 2,319 tpd, it burns 2,500 tpd, according to a Waste Not
interview with William McGrane, the Sanitation Commissioner
for the Town of Hempstead. The tip fee was $70 per ton up until
June 1, 1990. Mr. McGrane noted that it costs the Town of Hempstead
$130 per ton to dispose of ash, which includes transportation
costs to western New York landfills. Mr. McGrane said it didnt
matter that out-of-town wastes were being charged less because
the tip fees that the Town of Hempstead pays, when the tip fee
was $70 per ton, was: $30 to Am Ref-Fuel and $40 to Hempstead
for garbage costs, i.e., hauling, unprocessible wastes, recycling,
etc. According to a Newsday (NY) report of 3-30-90,
carters bringing in imported waste from outside the town Hempstead
(population 700,000) paid $10 - $22 less per ton. Hempsteads
presiding Supervisor Joseph Mondello noted that the towns
20-year contract with the plants owner and operator, Am
Ref-Fuel, allows the company to seek outside garbage at whatever
fee it can get when Hempstead cannot generate enough to keep the
plant operating efficiently...[Am Ref-Fuel spokesman Bob
Ryan] said the company has set its prices based on what the market
will bear...The amount of out-of-town waste reached a low of 13.4
percent of the total 77,490 tons burned in November -a peak month-
to a high of 43 percent of the total 66,644 tons burned last month...
LANDFILLS: HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR
A CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DUMP SITE IN CATSKILL, NEW YORK.
According to the May 1989 report issued by the New York State
Department of Health, this study found a high incidence
of reported respiratory and health symptoms among residents living
near the Ferro Bros. dump site. Of the approximately 53%
of residents living near the dump who responded to our questionnaire,
over half reported symptoms such as headaches, eye irritation,
and nose irritation. Complaints of difficulty sleeping
and nausea were also reported by a high proportion of the responders.
These symptoms were usually associated with strong odors from
the dump. When the area near the dump site was split into
two areas based on proximity to the site, residents living closer
to the site were found to have a higher reported incidence of
symptoms than residents living further away. Fifteen to eighteen
symptoms were more frequent among residents living closer to the
dump. For 4 of the 15 symptoms, those differences were statistically
significant. More people living near the dump associated their
symptoms with strong odors. More serious health problems were
reported more frequently by the group living closer to the dump.
Ten percent reported asthma and 18% bronchitis compared
to 4% and ll% respectively from those living further away...These
reported health findings are consistent with intermittent exposure
to hydrogen sulfide and other irritants coming from the site causing
or aggravating eye and respiratory symptoms and conditions...
The NY Department of Health conducted the health survey of residents
of Catskill, NY, in response to complaints of objectionable
odors and reports of acute health problems. The people affected
lived near the Ferro Bros. construction and demolition
dump. The following volatile organic compounds tested were
found to be above the limit of detection near the
vent pipe:
Volatile Organic Compounds Result (ug/m3)
Results of Air Sampling for Hydrogen Sulfide
1,1-dichloroethane 91
trichloroethene 34
tetrachloroethene 140 Location Level (ppm)
benzene 200
toluene l,200 On site, 25 ft. from vent 0.793
ethylbenzene 620 Off site, near entrance 0.031
p-xylene 57 Off site, 19 Bartow Ave. 0.018
m-xylene 7,400
o-xylene 910
cumene 680
styrene 770
1,3,5-trimethylbenzene l,500
1,2,4-trimethylbenzene 520
Gypsum board, a common component of construction and demolition
debris is known to undergo microbial decomposition releasing hydrogen
sulfide. Other materials in the debris also decompose over time
releasing other organic vapors and gases. Hydrogen sulfide has
an offensive, rotten egg-like odor at levels as low as 0.003 to
0.13 ppm. At high levels of exposure, it is an asphyxiant causing
death by interfering with the way the body utilizes oxygen. Effects
at lower levels of exposure include eye irritation, blurred vision,
and respiratory irritation. Studies of residents living near
paper mills (which release hydrogen sulfide and other sulfated
organic compounds) have found an increased incidence of respiratory
symptoms and illnesses. The other volatile organic compounds
found at the vent (primarily components of gasoline) may cause
a variety of possible health effects. Many of these compounds
will cause eye and respiratory irritation... This ll-page
report, titled Reported health conditions among residents
living near the Ferro Bros. Construction & Demolition Dump
Site, Catskill, New York, May 1989, is available from:
N.Y. DOH, Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology,
2 University Place, Room 130, Albany, NY 12203-3313. Attention:
Carol Ju.
NEW PUBLICATION ON WASTE ISSUES: Timothy
Coco, formerly Ogden Martins community relations
manager for the Haverhill, MA, incinerator, is the editor of Waste
Dynamics of New England According to Mr. Coco, the publication
links cities and towns in New England with waste industry
consultants, engineers and equipment suppliers, and is sent
free to all New England city and town officials. Published monthly,
at $36 per year, from 500 Commercial Street, Manchester, NH 03101.
WASTE NOT # 107 A publication of Work on Waste USA, published
48 times a year, annual rates are: Individual & Non-Profits
$35; Students & Seniors $25; Consultants & For-Profits
$100; Canadian Subscriptions $US40. Editors: Ellen & Paul
Connett, 82 Judson Street, Canton, NY 13617. Tel: 315-379-9200.
Fax: 315-379-0448.