Within the circular economy, Incineration and related thermal technologies, notably pyrolysis, and gasification units, are experiencing a resurgence of interest as viable strategies for the management of woody biomass and biosolids. However, such projects are challenging the applicability and robustness of current federal regulations and prompting much debate on their considerations of air toxics and syngas. This is a timely discussion given recent rule making activity and given similar technologies are proposed as organic waste management options during disaster recovery efforts and forest management.
This panel highlights an overview of these technologies and explores the current regulatory environment, then introduces two regulatory mind map tools designed to provide a structured approach to predicting regulatory pathways and framing air toxics discussions exemplified by select case studies. These mind maps provide a structured approach to identifying the levers critical in determining a project’s applicability to 40 CFR 60 EEEE and 40 CFR 60 LLLL thus empowering regulators, waste managers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers in gauging regulatory compliance and overall project success. The intent is to inspire discussions on expected regulatory pathways based on incinerator/thermal process designs, compliance and monitoring expectations, air toxics implications, and permitting precedents. All of which affect any successful attempt of these projects as a waste management strategy –whether for compliance with organic waste mandates, reduction of operating costs for operators, options for disaster relief or addressing concerns for emerging pollutants like PFAs.
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