Conversion of Urban Waste to Energy

The use of urban waste-to-energy systems in the United States is not widespread due largely to institutional or economic barriers. In Western Europe conversion of waste to energy is a well established technique and over 180 plants are operational. The United States has about 20 plants operational, 10 under construction, 30 in the planning phase, and 71 in preliminary study stages. If these 131 projects are fully operational by 1985, they could process about 36 million tons of urban waste, or 18 percent of the waste produced. The energy recoverable by these projects, including the recycling of recovered metals and the extraction of methane from existing landfills, could provide the nation with annual energy savings equivalent to about 48 million barrels of oil now worth almost $980 million. Because Congress already has given the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsibility for planning, developing, and coordinating federal solid waste management programs, it is recommended that the Administrator of EPA, in consultation with the Secretaries of Energy and Commerce, should develop a detailed 10-year plan describing a strategy for the federal Urban Waste-to-Energy Program. Among other provisions, the plan should encourage the timely completion of all 131 solid waste energy projects.