Waste to Energy Facilities

Solid Waste Incinerators, Refuse-Derived Fuel Processing and Solid Waste Pyrolysis Units

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a map of Active WTE Facilities

Incinerator means an enclosed device using controlled flame combustion to thermally break down solid waste, including refuse-derived fuel, to an ash residue that contains little or no combustible materials

Mixed solid waste means combinations of putrescible and nonputrescible waste materials.

Municipal solid waste means combined household, commercial and institutional waste materials generated in a given area.

Pyrolysis means a process using applied heat in an oxygen-deficient or oxygen-free environment for chemical decomposition of solid waste.

Refuse-derived fuel processing facility means the combination of structures, machinery or devices utilized to reduce or alter the volume of mixed solid waste before delivery to a solid waste incinerator or pyrolysis facility.

Waste-to-Energy Facilities in New York State

Waste-to-Energy (WTE) is defined as a solid waste management strategy that combusts wastes to generate steam or electricity and reduces the volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) that would otherwise need to be disposed of by approximately 80-90 percent.

As of October 2007, there were 10 active WTE facilities in New York State. In 2006, these facilities processed approximately 3.7 million tons of soild waste and generated approximately 2.2 million megawatt hours of electricity. Additionally, approximately 95,000 tons of ferrous metals were recovered by magnetic separators for recycling.

Stricter emission standards and numerous emission controls (which include fabric filters, dry scrubbers, carbon injectors, nitrogen oxide controls, spray dry absorbers, lime injection, selective non-catalytic reduction, acid gas/particulate matter control and electrostatic precipitators) being used in all active waste-to-energy facilities in New York State have resulted in a reduction in waste-to-energy air emissions and have significantly contributed to a cleaner state environment. Barring certain waste from entering the waste-to-energy facility waste stream (e.g., batteries and fluorescent light bulbs to reduce mercury emissions) has also resulted in less harmful stack emissions and a cleaner environment.

More about Waste to Energy Facilities:

2006 Waste to Energy Summary Report - Amount of energy generated by various waste-to-energy facilities
2006 Waste to Energy Facility Capacity Chart - Amount of waste handled and permitted of various waste-to-energy facilities