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Innovations for solid waste management proposed
(by Tina Pappas - January 24, 2008)
The problem of disposing municipal garbage has plagued society throughout the years. The current method to dispose of solid waste in the tri-state area is to send it to a landfill that is located in Pennsylvania.
Most environmentalists feel that this is a short-term solution and that the landfills will run out of space in a short amount of time. They also contend that landfill sites produce many greenhouse gases such as methane, which over time will prove to be detrimental to the planet.
Matt Linda, owner Global Waste Services, Inc., has proposed what he believes to be a solution for municipal garbage disposal.
"We have developed a method that moves municipal waste disposal from the Stone Age and into the new millennium," he said. "We have changed waste technology from the dump to the production line and have found a solution better than landfills, better than incineration plants. We have developed a process that extracts the useable elements of solid waste that produces a valuable product, while recycling the remaining material through improved recycling collection methods."
According to Linda, the patented waste elutriation technology, or WET system, is what enables the conversion of solid waste into fuel cubes. These fuel cubes properties are similar to that of coal but with fewer emissions.
"Bio-planking or paneling is another form of building material manufactured from our patented process. Building material from trash is without question the true meaning of recycling. The existing landfill life can be extended by 900 percent due to the reduction of solid waste volume. There also won’t be a need to separate recyclables by municipalities because everything will get sorted at the plant. Recycling by townships is currently not very effective because it’s not entirely done by everyone."
The proposal was presented to neighboring counties, including Passaic County. The Passaic County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) had varying opinions on the long-term sustainability of the WET system.
"On paper it appeared to be a pretty good solution idea," said Freeholder Pat Lepore. "Ultimately, the SWAC board wasn’t totally sold on the idea because the committee did not know enough about the technology and the method’s sustainability in the long run."
Passaic County Administrator Anthony DeNova echoed the sentiment.
"A couple of years ago, Mr. Linda came to us and presented the concept of the WET system, " he said. "The problem was that there wasn’t enough technological information given about the system to satisfy our engineers. There also isn’t another location in the country where the system is being used and proven to be successful. We needed more details to go on. I believe Al Dubois, our solid waste administrator for Clifton, is the only one who sits on the committee and is for it."
Dubois has expressed his support for the method but has continued questions about the specifics of its long-term sustainability.
"We heard his presentation but we haven’t received anything too detailed," said Dubois. "There are other systems being used in Europe that is similar to the one Mr. Linda is proposing, and I believe his company has one currently in the U.K. The proposal seems to be very encouraging but we need more information. What we’re lacking in New Jersey is a totally sustainable solution that can replace long distance landfill and incineration and would hopefully be more effective than only having the state’s mandate to ensure that a certain amount of recycling is done by municipalities."
Newly elected Ringwood Mayor Walter Davidson agrees.
"I find the proposal promising but there still needs to be more information given about the technology. He is more than welcome to give his presentation to our council members."
Mark Everett is a senior project manager for the Alaimo Group, an engineering group that has worked with improving solid waste plans for Passaic County. He believes that there needs to be proof that an alternative method could work.
"In the United States there are approximately 100 waste energy plants and five of those plants are located right here in New Jersey," he said. "Union, Essex, Warren, Camden and Gloucester Counties all have modern waste energy plants. This is proven technology. Each time you do a solid waste plan, there are many individuals that try to come up with better methods. However, unless they are proven methods the counties will not be willing to go into a contract."
Linda feels that waste energy plants are not practical because it entails taking landfill garbage and processing methane into electricity.
"This is not effective because it isn’t preventing large masses of garbage from going into crowded landfills to begin with," he said.
Many county officials feel that the WET system for disposing waste needs to have a litmus test in order for its feasibility to be apparent. Mary Ellen Lyons, SWAC chairperson, feels that the county cannot risk taking on waste technology that will not work.
"We are behind anything that will help alleviate the garbage problem but it must be a viable solution," she said. "We want to first see that it works somewhere else in order to consider it. There are technical, logistical and environmental things that would have to be ironed out. Where would the facility be constructed and how much land would be required for it? There is a range of issues that need to be considered and we need to have a more viable proposal. We have to also make sure that we are compliant with state law."
Linda contends the method is a solid approach to the management and disposal of municipal waste.
"They know that landfills are running out of space and we have to get on the county solid waste plan because the WET system is definitely viable technology," he added. "They want us to have had something up and running already but Passaic County could be the one to lead the nation with this. What would’ve happened if nobody listened to Henry Ford when he first had an idea? We’d still be on horseback. It’s going to cost the county absolutely nothing and all I need is their letter of consent. This method is converting waste to fuel cubes and bio planking instead of driving it to a Pennsylvania landfill 6.4 million miles a year.
Linda added that the county budget would receive $3 million in saving from this process and save money to taxpayers.
"Newark is interested in this plan and Essex County may get on the bandwagon soon enough. Global Waste Services would invest $60 to 70 million to build the facility but we would to have a county contract to do so. It’s a win-win for everyone, especially for the environment."
For more information, visit www.wetsystemsinc.com or www.orchid-environmental.co.uk.
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