Figuring the cost of waste incineration

Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 50% of U.S. landfills will reach capacity by 1990, next year. In anticipation, industrial facilities engineers - especially those generating two or more tons of waste per day - must turn to on site incineration as a viable alternative. Environmental engineers who have already completed a cost survey of on-site incinerators, have found three year paybacks, wiser allocations of budget dollars and reductions in overall energy costs via incinerators. Another strong incentive for incineration is the ability to control 'cradle-to-grave' liabilities. On-site incineration offers visionary companies some protection from future regulations, while limiting their need for rapidly disappearing landfill space. This article discusses how to investigate possibilities for applying incineration to industrial waste disposal problems, with emphasis on economic aspects.