Byproducts Transformation: from Waste to Resource to Energy

Ljupka ArsovaGershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc.

Fairfax, VA USA

May 14, 2015

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Introduction

MSW in the United States

Technologies & Products

Technology Review

Trends, Expectations and Opportunities

Outline

GBB -- Quality – Value – Ethics – Results

• Established in 1980• Solid Waste

Management and Technology Consultants

• Helping Clients Turn Problems into Opportunities

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GBB Waste Technology Services

• Economic, technical, and environmental reviews

• Markets development • Process planning and

design • Waste characterization

and sourcing• Procurement and

negotiation assistance• Independent feasibility

consultant• Technology due diligence• Acceptance testing and

operations monitoring

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www.rewmag.com

MSW in the US

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Disposition of MSW in the U.S.

EPA Estimate: 251 million tons (2012)

Discarded53.80%Recovery

34.50%

Combustion with Energy

Recovery11.70%

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Discarded63.50%Composted

6.34%

Recycled22.58%

Combustion with Energy

Recovery7.58%

Columbia University/ SOG 2013 results: 389 million tons (2011)

MSW Composition

Paper & Paperboard,

27.4%

Food Scraps, 14.5%

Yard Trimmings,

13.5%

Plastics, 12.70%

Metals, 9%

Rubber, Leather &

Textiles 8.4%

Wood, 6.3%

Glass, 4.6% Other, 3.4%

Source: US EPA, 2014

Composition of the MSW as generated, before recycling

Paper & Paperboard,

15%

Food Scraps, 21%

Yard Trimmings,

9%Plastics, 18%

Metals, 9%

Rubber & Leather &

Textile, 11%

Wood, 8%

Glass, 5%Other, 4%

Composition of the MSW as disposed, after recycling

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Recovery of Material Types as Percentage of Generation (EPA, 2012)

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0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

Management Practices

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What are we doing today with our waste?

Historical Generation & Management of MSW 1970 - 2012Source: US EPA, Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 2012 Facts and Figures

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0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012

Mill

ions

of T

ons

Year

MSW Generation

Recovery for Recycling

Recovery for Composting

Combustion with EnergyRecovery

Discards to Landfill, otherDisposal

Technology Number

Transfer Stations 3,350

Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) 586

Mixed Waste Processing Facilities (MWPF) 51Composting 4,900

Anaerobic Digestion 21WTE 84

Landfills 1,908

U.S. Waste Management Infrastructure

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Technology reviewExisting and emerging technologies

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Technologies and Products

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Secondary Product

Product Conversion

UpgradingGasoline

Extraction Chemicals

Engine

Ethanol/Methanol

Gas Turbine

Ammonia

Boiler Electricity

Synthesis

Primary ProductConversion

TechnologyChar

Tars & Oils

Syngas

Heat

Biogas

Ethanol

Compost

Anaerobic Digestion

Ethanol Fermentation

Feedstock

Pyrolysis

Gasification

Combustion*may be pre-

processed

Aerobic Composting

Status of WTE facilitiesOperating Facilities 80

Inactive Facilities 4

Total number of facilities 84

Facilities under construction 1

WTE (mass burn) plants in the US

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WTE facilities by TechnologyMass Burn 64

Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) 13

Modular 7

Hartford, CT (RDF dedicated boiler)

Alexandria, VA – Covanta (mass burn facility)

Source: Energy Recovery Council, 2014

State of the Composting in the US

Yard trimmings

70%

Food Scraps 7%

Mixed Organics

2%

Biosolids5%

On Site Institution

7%

On Site Farm/Ag

8%Other 1%

Composting Facilities by Type

• 4,914 composting operations in 43 states

• 19,4 million tons of organics diverted for composting (reported by 33 states)

• CA is the leader followed by FL, IA, WA and NY

• Average amount of organics processed at a composting plant: 5,155 TPY

• >20 states have yard waste bans from landfills

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Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance & BioCycle, July 2014

Anaerobic Digestion

• Currently the most popular in the US• >20 commercial plants operating in

the US• Feedstock: Commercial food waste,

residential SSO, co-digestion at WWTP and farms

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• Emerging technology • Partial combustion in an

air-controlled environment• Product: Syngas for production

of electricity, chemicals/ fuels (ethanol) • Feedstocks: MSW, biomass,

medical waste,

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Gasification

• Thermal conversion in the absence of oxygen• Non-recyclable plastics to oils, fuels• Plastics-to-Oil Technologies Alliance formed by ACC

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Pyrolysis

TRENDS, EXPECTATIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES

FOR THE FUTURE

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1950’s

Incineration for volume reduction

1950’s-1990’s

Mass burn with energy recovery

1990’s- 2000’s

Development and implementation of new and emerging technologies

Today

Material recovery towards circular economy

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Evolution of the Waste-to-Energy

Conversion technologies are

advancing

Increased interest in mixed waste processing and

MBT

Single vs dual stream collection

of recyclables

Sustainability and zero waste

Organics diversion and bans

Current Trends

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Example of MSW through Processing and Alternative Technologies

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MSW

Organics

MaterialsFor Recycling Organics

Mixed Waste Processing

Refuse Processed

FuelWTE facility

• Oil Refineries• Dedicated RE-Boilers• Paper Mills

Food Scraps

Power

WWTP Composting Anaerobic Digestion

Landfill

Biogas

Residue

Soil Amendment

Steam

Trucks and/or gas grid

User

Alternative Risks/Liability Risk SummaryProcessing for

Recyclables and Fuel Proven commercial technology Low

Composting Proven commercial technology Low

Mass Burn Combustion Proven commercial technology Low

RDF Combustion Proven technology; limited U.S. commercial experience Moderate to Low

Anaerobic Digestion Proven technology; limited U.S. commercial experience Moderate to Low

Pyrolysis and Gasification

Previous failures at scale; no operating experience with large -scale operations in the

U.S.; full-scale demonstrations nearing operationHigh

Technologies and Risk

24Source: Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. 2014

Energy/Fuel Product Values Are Key

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++ sale of chemical feedstocks, heat and/or recovered metalsSystem Capital Costs and O&M Costs impact the NET MSW costs!

Conv

ertin

g M

SW to

…

Product 1 ton MSW yields Value Per Production Unit

RevenuePer Ton

Power 500-600 kWh @ $0.06 / kWh $30-$36

Synthetic Crude 4 barrels @ $80 / barrel $320.00

Ethanol 80 gallons @ $2.50 / gallon $200.00

Jet fuel 50 gallons @$1.86/gallon $93

Thank you!!Questions and comments?

Ljupka Arsova1-800-573-5801

larsova@gbbinc.comwww.gbbinc.com