Choosing between resource recovery facilities and landfills

Recently, the Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG) completed a study to objectively compare risks of energy recovery facilities and landfills. The CONEG study compared the types and levels of toxic air pollutants emitted from resource recovery facilities versus municipal landfills, as well as the degree to which such emissions can be controlled in each case, and the level of health risk associated with toxic air pollutant emissions from landfills versus energy recovery facilities. The CONEG study used a national data base assembled by our company since 1986 on the subject of risks for energy recovery facilities versus landfills. In support of plans to regulate air pollutant emissions from municipal waste landfills, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a study of the air pollutant emissions from landfills, emission control alternatives, and emissions-related health risks. Based on the results of the CONEG and EPA studies, one can compare air-pollutant emissions, control measures, and health risks of resource recovery facilities and landfills on an equal footing.