Date
Inquiry

Our project would like to inquire on the use of a local "Waste To Energy" facility in helping to divert waste from landfills. We are fortunate enough to have a Covanta Energy Facility here in Onondaga County that uses the waste as fuel to power an alternative energy plant that produces energy for the local community. With the use of this facility we can reduce our fossil fuel use and emissions for hauling construction waste that cannot otherwise be diverted from landfill, as the Waste To Energy plant is closer in proximity than the landfill. We intend on implementing a comprehensive construction waste management plan and on using this Waste To Energy facility only for disposing construction waste for which we are unable to find any recycling source for per the USEPA hierarchy of soild waste management. This facility is a registered recycler with the USEPA, and it meets or exceeds the air quality emissions standards set forth by the USEPA. Byproducts from this Waste To energy facility are used to produce a low grade cementitious material that is sold to landfills for use as cover stabilization. This product also is striped of the metals that do not breakdown, and these metals are then extracted for recycling. For more information about this Covanta Energy Facility, please visit www.covantaenergy.com. With this technology available to us, we feel that the intent of the credit is being met while reducing emissions and fossil fuel usage, and providing power for the local community through waste diversion from landfill disposal. Our question: Can the construction waste diverted from landfill disposal via this Waste To Energy Facility, contribute to earning MRc2 with ID credit for exemplary performance for 95% diversion?

Ruling

The CIR is inquiring if the diversion of non-recyclable materials to an EPA approved Waste to Energy facility qualifies as construction waste diversion for the purposes of this credit. The credit intent states, "Divert construction and demolition debris from disposal in landfills and incinerators." Based on the credit intent, incineration of construction waste materials cannot be used as an alternative for diverting waste from the landfill. Applicable Internationally.

Internationally Applicable
On
Campus Applicable
Off