POTWs Worried About Stricter Biosolid Incineration Rules

Date: April 29, 2010

Source: News Room

The wastewater industry wants the US EPA to create tiered standards for biosolids incineration under the Clean Air Act (CAA) since the agency appears to want to classify them as a non-hazardous solid waste, rather than a fuel, and therefore subject to stricter regulatory standards. Environmental groups argue that a tiered standard would illegally protect older facilities from regulation meant for them. Upcoming EPA rules, to be issued under the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA), will determine which materials are waste and subject to more stringent regulation under a section 129 new source performance standard (NSPS), and which can be defined as fuel and allowed to be regulated under the less stringent section 112 maximum achievable control technology (MACT) program.

EPA appears to be moving forward to define biosolids as a RCRA nonhazardous waste. Industry would rather that EPA regulates sewage sludge according to how it is used. It would be considered fuel if burned in fluidized bed incinerators that have lower emissions. Otherwise, it would be considered a solid waste. There are about 270 incinerators across the country that collectively burn about 17 to 20 percent of the nation's biosolids, and are primarily located in areas where land application is difficult, e.g. colder climates and populated areas.

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