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
Flitwick (Bedfordshire), Oct 30, Flitwick (Bedfordshire), Oct 30, 20102010
OUTLINEOUTLINE
1. A few words about Sustainability1. A few words about Sustainability2. Arguments against incineration2. Arguments against incineration3. The Zero Waste 2020 Strategy3. The Zero Waste 2020 Strategy4. Zero Waste steps around the world4. Zero Waste steps around the world5. 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 wastethe best place to start is with waste
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 evidenceIncineratorsIncinerators 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
… … a Global crisis a Global crisis
Global warming is a symptom Global warming is a symptom
… … a Global crisis a Global crisis
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
A LINEAR SOCIETYA LINEAR SOCIETY
Extraction Extraction ProductionProduction
A LINEAR SOCIETYA LINEAR SOCIETY
Extraction Extraction ProductionProductionConsumptionConsumption
A LINEAR SOCIETYA LINEAR SOCIETY
Extraction Extraction ProductionProductionConsumptionConsumption WasteWaste
A LINEAR SOCIETYA LINEAR SOCIETY
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 DiscardedDiscarded
MaterialsMaterials
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY
A LINEAR SOCIETYA LINEAR SOCIETY
Extraction ofExtraction ofVirginVirgin
MaterialsMaterials
Production ofProduction ofManufacturedManufactured
itemsitemsConsumptionConsumption DiscardedDiscarded
MaterialsMaterials
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY
GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING
A LINEAR SOCIETYA LINEAR SOCIETY
Extraction ofExtraction ofVirginVirgin
MaterialsMaterials
Production ofProduction ofManufacturedManufactured
itemsitemsConsumptionConsumption DiscardedDiscarded
MaterialsMaterials
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY
GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING
How do waste management How do waste management practices affect this picture?practices affect this picture?
Extraction ofExtraction ofVirginVirgin
MaterialsMaterials
Production ofProduction ofManufacturedManufactured
itemsitemsConsumptionConsumption DiscardedDiscarded
MaterialsMaterials
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY
LANDFILLSLANDFILLS
GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING
Extraction ofExtraction ofVirginVirgin
MaterialsMaterials
Production ofProduction ofManufacturedManufactured
itemsitemsConsumptionConsumption DiscardedDiscarded
MaterialsMaterials
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY
INCINERATION INCINERATION
GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING
Extraction ofExtraction ofVirginVirgin
MaterialsMaterials
Production ofProduction ofManufacturedManufactured
itemsitemsConsumptionConsumption DiscardedDiscarded
MaterialsMaterials
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY
GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING
RECYCLING OF MATERIALSRECYCLING OF MATERIALS
Extraction ofExtraction ofVirginVirgin
MaterialsMaterials
Production ofProduction ofManufacturedManufactured
itemsitemsConsumptionConsumption DiscardedDiscarded
MaterialsMaterials
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY
GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING
REUSE OF OBJECTSREUSE OF OBJECTS
Extraction ofExtraction ofVirginVirgin
MaterialsMaterials
Production ofProduction ofManufacturedManufactured
itemsitemsConsumptionConsumption DiscardedDiscarded
MaterialsMaterials
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Solid wasteSolid waste
Air pollutionAir pollution
Water pollutionWater pollution
Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
ENERGYENERGY ENERGYENERGY
GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL WARMING
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 -10-10Waste 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 -10-10Waste 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 recyclingrecyclingGJ/tonneGJ/tonne
Energy Energy output from output from incinerationincinerationGJ/tonneGJ/tonne
Energy Energy savings savings recycling recycling versus versus incinerationincineration
NewsprintNewsprint 6.336.33 2.622.62 2.42.4Fine 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 4.24.2HDPEHDPE 64.2764.27 6.306.30 10.210.2PETPET 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 investment3) It wastes valuable time3) It wastes valuable time4) It is very inflexible and stifles 4) It is very inflexible and stifles
innovationinnovation5) 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 landfills7) It 7) It produces toxic air emissionsproduces toxic air emissions8) Incineration is poorly and 8) Incineration is poorly and
unscientifically monitoredunscientifically monitored9) 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 waste We don’t have 25 years to waste on a non-sustainable solution!on a non-sustainable 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 ashFor 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!
CHUTESECONDARYCHAMBER
TURBINE
BOILER
ELECTRICITY
STEAM
TRASHBOTTOM 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
ACID GASES:HCI, HF, SO2
NOx
TOXIC METALS:Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr etc
AIR EMISSIONS
CO2 + H2O
ACID GASES:HCI, HF, SO2
NOx
TOXIC METALS:Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr etc
NEW COMPOUNDSNEW COMPOUNDS::
PCDDs (DIOXINS)PCDDs (DIOXINS)PCDFs (FURANS)PCDFs (FURANS)PCB’sPCB’sETCETC
AIR EMISSIONS
CO2 + H2O
ACID GASES:HCI, HF, SO2
NOx
TOXIC METALS:Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr etc
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 nanoparticlesNanoparticles 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
Aggregati di PiomboAggregati di Piombo, , BarioBario, , CromoCromo, , FerroFerro e e SilicioSilicio in in CervelloCervello..
www.stefanomontanari.net