National Perspective on C & D to Energy Jason Haus
CEO, Dem-Con Company
EBC New England, Inc. Construction & Demolition Summit Framingham, Massachusetts January 31, 2013 Jason Haus Construction Materials Recycling Association
Safe and Powerful Fuels NHSM Rule Update: • Multi-year process working with EPA • CMRA & BPA (Biomass Power Assoc.) have been working with EPA on the rule • Powerful data and reasonable conversations resulted in positive outcomes
Safe and Powerful Fuels NHSM Rule Update: • Industry needed a “Non-Waste” determination • Worked toward a categorical exemption • CMRA addressed the 3 crucial criteria to make the C&D wood materials a legitimate fuel • Needed to prove the material……. 1. is handled as a valuable commodity 2. has meaningful heating value 3. contains contaminant levels equal to or lower than a fuel in which the combustor is designed to burn
Safe and Powerful Fuels NHSM Next Steps: • NHSM Rules will appear in the Federal Register Jan. 31 (Today) • C&D Wood specific rule making has begun • By the end of first quarter we may see C&D Wood language • Working with EPA on Preamble and rule language
• All discussions with EPA have been positive • EPA is looking to support C&D Wood as a categorical “Non-Waste” fuel
Safe and Powerful Fuels NHSM Next Steps: • EPA accepted CMRA’s Best Practices for processing • “Best” may be replaced with “Proven” Management practices • These practices meet the processing requirements of 40 C.F.R. 241.(b)(4) • A “Non-Waste” determination
Safe and Powerful Fuels The Proof was in the Wood: • Samples taken from around the US • Independent lab tested samples based on EPA required tests • Results presented to EPA with very favorable results • Details published in C&D World Nov/Dec Issue
Safe and Powerful Fuels Energy Values: • EPA has stated that they… • •
Are interested in all techniques that help recover materials or energy components of these materials Recommend WTE over landfilling
• There is high Btu value in our material Stream • • • •
Shingles Plastic OCC Wood
Safe and Powerful Fuels Energy Values: •
Shingles: • •
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Whole shingles or chip byproducts Btu Values of approximately 10,000 Btu/lb
Plastics: •
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HDPE, PET and Other plastics common in C&D Btu values range from 11,000-20,000 Btu/lb PVC is not desired in boilers due to high levels of chlorine
Safe and Powerful Fuels Energy Values: •
OCC: •
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Btu values of approximately 7,000 Btu/lb High volumes in new construction Some cannot be baled and returned to new OCC More value in heat than landfilled
Wood: •
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Btu values will range from 4,00012,000 Btu/lb depending on moisture and wood types Very high volumes of wood in our stream
Safe and Powerful Fuels Energy Related Projects: • Starting to see more project being discussed across the country • US has not yet embraced the WTE potential of material streams • NIMBY concerns have delayed and stopped multiple projects
Safe and Powerful Fuels Energy Related Projects: • Anaerobic Gasification • • •
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Extract energy from a fuel without combustion A “flameless” process C&D Wood, RR Ties, other C&D Stream components
Pellets and Briquetting • •
Over 18 Canadian Operations with more planned in the future, not prominent in the US Value of “waste” pellets carry more Btu value than a simple wood pellet, but C&D fines create challenges
Safe and Powerful Fuels Energy Related Projects: •
Rational Energies, Plymouth, MN • • • •
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Changing plastics from environmental liability to renewed synthetic crude oil Low value plastics Not meant to replace recycling Developed by looking at material streams differently
Plainfield Renewable Energy & Taylor Biomass • Stay Tuned…….
Safe and Powerful Fuels
EBC New England, Inc. Construction & Demolition Summit Jason Haus
[email protected] 952-224-7110 Dem-Con Companies