Incinerator Construction Trends

Construction Considerations and Trends

Multiple considerations are taken into account when building an incinerator. One of the decisive factors is the local waste; the current and future quantity of waste generated is the prime consideration, but other factors, such as the composition of the waste, are also considered. The local political and public environment must also be carefully measured; legislation on emission controls and public perception both play an important role in choosing a locality for establishing a new facility. Other considerations include available infrastructures, locally available materials, and expertise.

Construction of new incinerators slowed (or, in the case of the United States, completely halted) from 1995 to 2006. The main reason for this moratorium was environmental concerns because of the pollution allegedly produced by these structures. Since 2006, there has been a renewed interest in the construction of such incinerators. This interest has been led by the growing use of waste as an energy source, the emergence of new technologies, and new regulations surrounding landfills.

One of the main reasons for renewed interest is that waste incineration has been granted qualification for renewable energy (RE) production tax credits in the United States, and it has obtained equivalent certification in Europe. Since many solid waste components contain hydrocarbons, their incineration generates steam and heat, which can be harnessed to generate electricity. Furthermore, the “renewable” nature of municipal waste has enabled it to qualify for renewable energy status. Hence, its designation as an RE has led to project expansions as well as feasibility evaluations for new plants. In addition, new projects devote extra attention to energy production in their proposal to evaluators and investors and take advantage of new waste-to-energy technologies in their design.

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