THE IMPACT OF PARTICULATE-EMISSIONS CONTROL ON THE CONTROL OF OTHER MWC AIR EMISSIONS

On December 20,1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revised new source performance standards for new municipal waste combustion (MWC) units and guidelines for existing sources. The proposed national regulations require tighter particulate matter control and address precombustion, combustion, and post-combustion controls, the latter two depending on capacity and age of the facility. The air pollutants of concern when municipal solid waste (MSW) is burned will be discussed. Generally, particulate control is an inherent part of the systems used to limit the emissions of these air pollutants. The relationships between MWC air emissions (acid gases, trace organics, and trace heavy metals) control and particulate control will be discussed. Test results to quantify air pollutant emissions from MWC units and their control will be presented and compared with the proposed regulations. © 1990 Air and Waste Management Association.