Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond Presented at the 21st Annual Maine Recycling and Solid Waste Conference The Samoset Resort, Rockport, Maine

28 April 2014

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

The MRC Mission Ensure affordable, long-term, and environmentally sound disposal of MSW • 187 towns deliver ~180,000 tpy of MSW to PERC Facility • 250-mile range from Mars Hill to Boothbay Harbor • 50-50 split on a tonnage basis between curbside collection and transfer station drop-off 3

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond Net Disposal Cost Without Stabilization $140

(as forecast in 2011)

$120

$ per ton

$100 $80 $60 $40 $20 $-

The cost cliff is coming in 2018! 4

Why focus on 2018? • Waste disposal agreements expire • Costs will change • Once-in-ageneration opportunity to reconsider the entire solid waste management system

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

Recycling by MRC towns in 2014: room for improvement  Most recycled tonnage is scrap metal and cardboard  MSW delivered to PERC contains high amounts of recyclables and organics  Modest results from pay-asyou-throw and single-stream recycling systems 5

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

Objectives for the Post-2018 System  Achieve the MRC mission: affordable, long-term, environmentally-sound MSW management  Encourage (and avoid disincentives for) waste reduction and diversion  Use emerging technology to maximize diversion at minimal cost 6

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

Request for Expressions of Interest 13 responses received in August 2013

Responses presented three levels of diversion 1. 10% to 20% through mixed waste processing 2. 30% through 50% through an MBT facility 3. 65% through 85% through advanced organics processing (convert carbohydrates to hydrocarbons!) 8

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

1. Mixed Waste Processing  Recover 10% to 20% as high-value recyclables from 100% of incoming MSW without added collection/haul costs  Use modular “MiniMRFs” based on Medina County, Ohio (since 1994) with new mixed MSW processing equipment 9

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

1. Mixed Waste Processing. Use near-infrared technology to sort plastics and paper by type. TITECH, Van Dyk Recycling Systems.

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

2. Mechanical and biological treatment (MBT)  Recover 30% to 50% as recyclables, processed engineered biomass fuel (PEF) and organic products (bio-gas or CNG)  Common in Europe: new facilities in San Jose, CA; Sunnyvale, CA; Edmonton, AB; San Antonio, TX; etc.

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

2. Mechanical and biological processing (MBT): sort organic fines in an anti-wrap screen. Recology, California. Van Dyk Recycling Systems.

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

3. Advanced organics processing (e.g., Fiberight)  Recover 65% to 85% as recyclables, PEF and high-value organic products (chemicals and liquid fuels)  Pilot plant in Lawrenceville, VA; breaking ground in Iowa  Key design and performance features o Remove recyclables in mixed- or single-stream MRF o Use wet processing to create pulp and sugars o Use proprietary enzymes to break down cellulose o Screen, distill and refine to produce bio-gas, posthydrolysis solids, PEF and ethanol or other chemicals 13

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond In-feed conveyor and trommel, autoclave and sorting of autoclaved materials, Lawrenceville, VA.

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond Washing tunnel for pulp production. Lawrenceville, VA.

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond Removal of processed engineered fuel and wash water processing and recycling. Lawrenceville, VA.

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Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

Bio-gas production module.

Lawrenceville, VA.

Bio-refinery for fermentation and distillation of ethanol. Lawrenceville, VA. 18

Waste Conversion Technologies: The Municipal Review Committee Plan for 2018 and Beyond

The Timeline for Development 2014 Confirm technology and business concepts Secure Charter Municipality support 2015 Procure vendors, reach agreements 2016 Get Charter Municipality approvals Get permits and financing 2017 Complete development and begin construction 2018 Begin commercial operation 19