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"A study was performed to determine available, unused incinerator and kiln capacity for destruction of hazardous waste. The results of this study are to be used by EPA's Office of Solid Waste (OSW) to make decisions regarding the disposal of hazardous wastes affected by the 1984 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Amendments. Certain wastes are to be diverted from land disposal to incineration if sufficient incineration capacity exists. The results of the study reveal that the 221 incinerators within the RCRA program (up to the time of the study September 1985) nave a total design capacity of three (3) million metric tons per year. These incinerators are presently utilized for the destruction of two (2) million metric tons per year, leaving an estimated unused capacity of one (1) million metric tons. The unused capacity can be further classified as one-third suitable for destroying solid wastes, one-half for halogenated waste, and nearly all for liquid hazardous Waste. Cement kiln estimates, based on production capacity, average values for hazardous waste heat content and a range of waste substitution percentages, result in a projected range of total destruction capacity from 2.27 to 6.05 million metric tons per year. Present hazardous waste destruction in cement kilns falls between 60 to 90 thousand metric tons per year, leaving an unused capacity from 2 to 6 million metric tons per year. Cement kiln owners cite low incentives as the main reason for not utilizing more of their capacity for destroying hazardous wastes. Among the specific reasons given are expenses incurred for waste storage tank construction, burner modification. additional monitoring equipment, added operating and maintenance costs and uncertainty and costs associated with permitting. Unlike many industrial incinerators {which are operated for the destruction of the company's own waste exclusively or primarily), the objective for cement kilns would be to realize net savings due to reductions in fuel costs." |
