“939” ORGANIC MATERIALS

FUTURE FLOWS TO LANDFILLS?

• Rice straw from burning phase-outs

• Other agricultural residuals?

• Waste from logging, wood processing

• Biomass-to-energy feedstocks

GASIFICATION

• “Cooks” feedstock at high temps

• No combustion• Yields gases that

are turned into electricity

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

• Bacteria “digest” feedstocks

• Yields gases and residues

• Gases into electricity

• Residues into fertilizer

HYDROLYSIS

• Breaks feedstocks into sugars, then “brews” products

• Uses acid or enzymes• Yields ethanol, citric

acid, other products

FEEDSTOCKS

• Mostly cellulose-based = plant material– Organic part of solid waste (wood, yard, etc.)– Low-grade paper part of solid waste– Ag and forest residues– Some also can take plastics

• Each technology needs certain characteristics• Which feedstocks best for which technologies?

BENEFITS

• Diversion beyond 50%• New energy, fuel, and industrial products• Reduced environmental impacts

– Need lifecycle analyses, operating plants to confirm

• If co-located at MRF, reduced transportation and siting impacts

• Local economic development• Less dependence on external energy sources

COMMERCIAL FACILITIES THAT USE SOLID WASTE

• Australia – Brightstar gasification • Ontario, Canada – Canadian Compost Inc.

anaerobic digestion • New York – Masada hydrolysis (under

construction)

BRIGHTSTAR - GASIFICATION

• Woolagong, Australia

• Uses post-recycled solid waste

• Operational early 2001

• Designed for about 75,000 tons per year

• Produces 10 megawatts currently

• Permitted by New South Wales EPA– 2-year trial license

CANADIAN COMPOST INC. -ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

• Newmarket, Ontario

• Uses mixed solid waste that is then separated

• Operational in 2000

• Designed for 150,000 tons per year

• Produces 5 megawatts + fertilizer

MASADA - HYDROLYSIS

• Middletown, New York

• Will use post-recycled solid waste + biosolids

• Under construction

• Designed for about 200,000 tons per year

• Will yield 9 million gals. ethanol + gypsum

CALIFORNIA FACILITIESUSING SOLID WASTE

NONE!!NONE!!

CIWMB CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY FORUM

• May 3-4, 2001 in Sacramento

• About 160 participants

• Objectives:– shared understanding– diverse opinions– initial recommendations

ISSUES/BARRIERS

• Lack of political leadership• Statutory constraints• Lack of funding• Economics and markets • Lack of data• Feedstock access• Public perception & understanding• Regulatory

CIWMB BOARD ACTIONS

• May 2001: Directed work in 5 areas:– Interagency coordination– Follow-up workshops/symposia– Leveraging Fed/State $$– Proposals for small-scale grants and lifecycle

analysis research– Assist applicants in permit process

• October 2001: Contract $$

CIWMB STRATEGIC PLAN

• Conversion technologies could be major tool towards zero waste

• Strategic Plan Goals & Objectives– Environmentally preferable technologies

– Promoting new technologies and processes

– Alternative means of diversion, including technologies that result in electricity and fuel

WORKSHOPS & OUTREACH

• Presentations to RCRC, Western SWANA, League of Cities, SCAG, LEA Conf., others

• Surveyed 80 local governments, 20 vendors• CRRA - July 2002

– 3-hour session on lifecycle costs/benefits

• SWANA - October 2002– Workshop + vendor trade show

• RMDZ Investors Forum -- TBD• Renewable Fuels Assoc. Ethanol Conf. – Feb 02

INTERAGENCY COORDINATION

• California Energy Commission– Public Interest Energy Research Program

• Office of Planning and Research • California Dept. Forestry • Technology, Trade, & Commerce Agency• U.S. Forest Service• U.S. Dept. of Energy• National Renewable Energy Laboratory

FUNDING

• Seeking $$ for R&D grants, lifecycle analyses• Seeking project financing from agencies

– Energy Commission, US Dept. of Energy, etc.

• Board contract $$ approved Oct 2001– Will support outreach events and some initial

technology comparisons

ASSISTING PROPOSED PROJECTS

• Some want $$, most want permit assistance• Gasification - Riverside Co.

– County RFP

• Gasification - Orange Co. – Considering MRF co-location

• Hydrolysis - southern California– Would produce ethanol

• Anaerobic digestion - Los Angeles– Co-locate at landfill, power to city?

PERMIT ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS

• Questions about process and time– since no facilities in California yet

• Goal: link local and State permitting entities and coordinate process

• Working with Cal/EPA Permit Assistance• Siting issues:

– Local zoning and planning– Environmental justice – Air quality– Transportation

REGULATORY ANDPERMITTING ISSUES

• CIWMB regs cover some aspects, not others– Gasification in “transformation,” needs full permit

– Hydrolysis not defined, so no permit?

– Anaerobic digestion in composting regs, needs permit based on size and feedstock

• How to ensure up-front recycling & diversion programs are not impaired

REGULATORY ANDPERMITTING ISSUES

• Staff workshop January 2002• Background paper on current framework• Solicit external stakeholder feedback• Types of questions:

– Should conversion technologies be defined separately from transformation?

– How should they be regulated?

Back To The Future