NAWTEC 2018: WTE in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The 26th Annual North American Waste-to-Energy Conference (NAWTEC) on May 14-16, 2018, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will feature the latest in waste-to-energy (WTE) principles, technologies and innovations, with a focus this year on how WTE can improve a community and help build a more sustainable future.

Serving as a backdrop to the conference is the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA). LCSWMA employs a multi-step approach to trash disposal and processing. This integrated system not only saves significant landfill capacity, it also creates clean, renewable energy. Tours of the facility and its programs will be a highlight of the event.This year’s event will feature technical sessions with expert speakers, unprecedented WTE networking opportunities, and information-sharing opportunities among peers, event organizers say. 

Session Spotlights

Immobilization of Toxic Heavy Metals in MSW Combustion Residues: A Case Study

WTE professionals will learn about cost-effective solutions for stabilizing heavy metals in MSW residues to cover the gap between the leachability concentrations of toxic elements observed in residues and the leachability toxicity limits as per EPA's regulatory threshold. The presentation will further demonstrate how large savings can be obtained by treating the plant's combustion residues with new proposed methods.

Speaker:
• Anil Mehrotra, Plant Engineer, Hampton/NASA Steam Plant

Leaching Results of Maine Weathered Concrete/Ash Mixtures: Implications for Reuse

This field study will look at the weathering percentage of five different concentrations of ash (10, 25, 40, 60 and 70) mixed with concrete and left open to the harsh Maine environment for a period of six months. Field data like this will be essential going forward as WTE plants make a regulatory case for more productive uses of ash, such as building and road improvement material instead of entombment in a landfill.

Speaker:
• Mark Maritato, Environmental Health and Safety Specialist, ecomaine

Managing WTE Electric Sales Beyond PURPA

As many U.S. WTE facilities face the expiration of long-term pricing contracts that were established under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), maximizing the value of electric revenue is challenging. Learn from this panel discussion about some of the challenges facing WTE facilities in the Northeast region, where cheap natural gas has driven market prices to 15-year lows, and what public and private entities are doing to stabilize electric revenues in the open market.

Panelists:
• Michelle Marsh, Director of Business Solutions, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority
• Sami Kabbani, Vice President, Energy, Covanta
• Scott Helm, President, American PowerNet

Improving the Economics of WTE Facilities through Enhanced Metal Reclamation and Beneficial Reuse of Ash

This presentation will focus on the benefits of reconfiguring fly ash and bottom ash handling systems. LCSWMA's experience with this issue can benefit other WTE owners by decreasing ash disposal expense, increasing metal revenue and positioning the owner for future bottom ash re-use efforts.

Speaker:
• Tom Adams, Chief Business Development Officer, Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority

For more information on the conference, visit NAWTEC.org.