Frequently Asked Questions
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What permits have been issued?
- West Virginia Public Service Commission – Certificate of Need
- West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection – Non-Disposal Solid Waste Permit
- West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection – Air Quality Minor Source Permit to Construct
- West Virginia Department of Highways – Encroachment Permit for public road access
- Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority – Siting Plan Amendment Request
- Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority – Request for Siting of a Solid Refuse Fuel Manufacturing Facility
- Berkeley County Planning and Zoning Commission – Preliminary Site Plan Approval.
- Building permits and local compliance requirements – Ongoing as required for construction.
What are the advantages to Mechanical, Biological Treatment (MBT)?
The proposed Entsorga West Virginia LLC technology, MBT, when applied to municipal solid waste (MSW) leads to a significant weight loss. The process will lead to the recovery of additional metal recyclables (while not impacting current or future recycling activities), substantial reduction in the need for landfilling and the creation of a final product that is EPA recognized as a renewable alternative fuel called SRF. Each of these accomplishments will result in a substantial reduction in Greenhouse Gasses. There is no hazardous waste or incineration or combustion involved in the MBT process.
What is the MBT Process and how is the Solid Refuse Fuel made?
Reception – Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) placed by resident’s curbside as it is today, will be brought to the proposed facility by a local hauler. The MSW will be deposited into an indoor aerated reception pit. Air is continuously drawn into the building to avoid odor buildup inside the Facility. There is no combustion or incineration in this process.
MSW processed at the Facility is anticipated to include all of the waste currently allowable by local waste haulers including but not limited to, kitchen organic waste, mixed unsorted paper, plastics, etc. Excluded waste includes all wastes that are currently prohibited by the local waste hauler such as hazardous waste, used oil, source separated recyclables, white goods and construction debris.
Pre-screening – MSW will go through an initial screening process using a large rotary drum that will tear open the trash bags and combine the bagged waste with other non-bagged MSW. Large pieces of waste such as plastic, paper and cardboard are separated from the MSW and set aside for use during the refining stage. The remaining waste, including organic waste is referred to as “underscreen” material, is smaller in size and goes directly to a holding area. An air circulation system will be used to ensure rapid composting of the organic fraction of the waste. The air circulation system blows warm air through the under-screen waste in order to quickly start up the aerobic composting fermentation process.
Biological treatment (oxidation/composting) – The underscreen material is moved from the holding area and placed on a pre-fabricated concrete floor that contains slots through which processed air is moved. The processed air is comprised of a controlled combination of fresh air and re-circulated warm air, which ensures a consistent breakdown of the waste. This reduces the amount of water in the material leading to a dry paper-like product. There is no combustion or incineration in this process.
Refining – After the biological treatment stage, the now dried under-screen material will be re-introduced to the previously removed over-screen material in the refinement area of the facility. Using rotary screens, air separators and magnetic/infrared technology, the material is further separated to remove any metals and PVC plastics that may remain. Metals will be sent to the County Recycling Center on Grapevine Road. The PVC plastics will be sent to the local landfill. The product is then shredded into smaller pieces resulting in a product that can be used as an alternate fuel replacing traditional fuels, such as coal and petroleum coke.
How will emissions/odors from the facility be controlled?
- The building will be under slight negative pressure, which will keep the odors from reaching the outside environment.
- All of the air (about 70,000 m3) drawn from the building is cleaned by means of a very large biofilter that has been proven to be the most effective technology for odor control over the years. It is a process that involves harnessing natural microbes to remove odor from the air.
- Dust control devices such as bag houses will collect any particulate matter from the air prior to discharge to the atmosphere from the building.
- The doors used by trucks entering the building are “quick open/close” doors which will help to eliminate odor emissions as well. At the existing SRF manufacturing facilities, located in Europe, there is no noticeable odor at the facility boundaries.
- Visible particulate emissions will be monitored as required by the WVDEP Air Permit-to-Construct and additionally throughout the workday to ensure that dust is properly controlled.
Is the proposed Entsorga West Virginia LLC SRF manufacturing facility an incinerator?
No. The proposed process does not combust any waste materials as a method of waste disposal. The proposed process uses mechanical (e.g., conveyors, sorters, and cranes) and naturally occurring biological processes (oxidation or composting) to produce an alternate fuel.
Where will the MSW come from?
- Gold Medal Environmental (GME) and its West Virginia-based affiliates will provide the majority of the municipal solid waste needed to operate the facility. AVW is also an equity owner in the facility and will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the plant. At capacity, it is estimated that approximately 30 trucks per day will deliver the municipal solid waste. (A trash truck holds approximately 12 tons of waste and trash will be delivered to the Facility approximately 23 days per month).
- The MSW will come from Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties. Only household waste is being considered for the startup of the Facility. Once the Facility is operating at full capacity select commercial waste may be considered; however that will be dependent on the local waste hauler. If MSW from Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties cannot support the required 88,000 tons per year, MSW from surrounding counties or States may be brought to the facility. If necessary, these would be minimal quantities.
Will there be any new infrastructure required to handle the truck traffic?
An access road will be built off of Grapevine Road in close proximity to the existing office of the Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority. The access road has been permitted through the WVDOT and the Berkeley County Planning Commission.
What are the proposed hours of operation for the facility?
- Receipt of Waste – Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Processing of Waste – Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
How many individuals will be employed?
At capacity the facility will have between 15-20 employees. These employees consist of individuals working at the facility in various positions. Additional employees will be required for the transportation of SRF and recyclables to market, as well as any residual waste to landfills. In addition, there will be a number of services connected with maintenance and cleaning that may be outsourced to local companies.
Who is going to buy and use the SRF?
Entsorga West Virginia, LLC has a signed off-take agreement with Argos Cement LLC. in Martinsburg, WV. Argos currently uses traditional fuels or other alternate fuels in their production process. Other cement manufacturers within proximity to the Entsorga WV facility have also expressed interest in the SRF. The manufactured SRF has been used in European communities by the cement industry, steel plants, power plants, and gasification plants.
What are the environmental benefits of using SRF as an alternate fuel?
The SRF from the Entsorga process has been proven to have contaminants comparable to or less than those found in traditional US fossil fuels. Facilities that have used SRF as an alternative fuel have reduced their Greenhouse Gas Emissions and their overall carbon footprint. In addition to a cleaner burning fuel supply, less MSW will need to be disposed of in landfills. As a result, this will trigger a reduction in GHG emissions of an estimated 24,800 tons per year of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalent. Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator (www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.com) below are some statistics that show relative comparisons of carbon dioxide emissions and carbon sequestration to everyday activities:
- Annual GHG emissions from 4,411 passenger vehicles (assuming 20.4 miles per gallon and 11,720 miles per year per vehicle).
- CO2 emissions from 2,522,218 gallons of gasoline consumed.
- Carbon sequestered by 576,876 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
- Carbon sequestered annually by 4,797 acres of pine forests.
Is SRF manufacturing and use a proven technology?
- There are currently over 300 MBT plants being utilized throughout Europe today. The highest concentration of SRF manufacturing facilities is in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. There are numerous MBT plants currently under construction throughout Europe including the United Kingdom, Poland, Slovenia, Romania, and the Czech Republic.
- The most recent constructed Entsorga plant was commissioned in 2014 by the Hills Group in Wiltshire England. It currently processes over 70,000 tons per year of MSW into SRF.
What permits have been issued?
Ms. Emily Dyson
80 Red Schoolhouse Road
Suite 101
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
845-262-1081
Answers to your questions
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