SOLID WASTED
ACTIVE
EA
-------
The Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965 (as amended in 1970)
requires (Section 204) the Administrator, Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, to conduct research, investigations, experiments,
surveys, and studies relating to:
(1) any adverse health and welfare effects of the
release into the environment of material pre-
sent in solid waste, and methods to eliminate
such effects;
(2) the operation and financing of solid waste
disposal programs;
(3) the reduction of the amount of such waste and
unsalvageable waste materials;
(4) the development and application of new and im-
proved methods of collecting and disposing of
solid waste and processing and recovering
materials and energy from solid wastes; and
(5) the identification of so"!id waste components
and potential materials -*nd energy recoverable
from such waste components.
Eleven ROAP's (Research Objective Achievement Plan)
were funded in FY '73. Table I shows the relationship of
each ROAP to the five research areas identified in the Act
(using the codes (l)-(5) noted above)0 Where a ROAP in-
volves more than one research area, that major area is
stated firsto
-------
TABLE I
RESEARCH AREAS OF FISCAL 1973 ROAR'S
ROAP AREA
01 AAC (4), (1), (2)
02 AAE (2), (4)
05 ABZ (4), (5)
06 AKO (5), (3)
06 ALR (1)
09 ABF (3), (5)
09 ADA (4)
24 ABV (2), (3)
24 AID (2)
The following is a summary, by Research Objective
Achievement Plan (ROAP), of all new tasks initiated in fiscal
year 1973, exclusive of tasks that deal with ROAP technical
supervision, correspondence, proposal review, grant monitor-
ing, etc., and cjeneral management activities (these are iden-
tified as Task Cl in each ROAP).
KEYS USED: GT = General Task
FPY = Task initiated prior to FY '73.
NFTY = Task proposed but not funded in FY '73,
2
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 01AAC
EROS/ROAP TITLE:
ROAP APPROACH
Task 01
Task 02-06
Task 07
Task 08
Task 09
"Development of a Comprehensive Understanding
of Solid Waste Disoosal in Sanitary Landfills
and of the Environmental Impact of Landfills"
Investigate at lab and field scale those
areas in land disposal technology where nec-
essary scientific knowledge is lacking.
Specifically, determine analytical techniques
for pollutant identification; leachate genera-
tion, movement, treatment and control; gas
generation, movement and control; pathogen
survival, movement and control; settlement.
prediction and control. A combination of
in-house, contract, and grant mechanisms
will be used in discrete tasks to accomplish
these objectives.
GT
FPY
Bibliography - Influence of Solid Waste
Management Practices on the Environment.
The objective of this continuing activity
is to compile, in a readily available source,
pertinent articles describing the influence
of various solid waste management practices
on the quality of surface water and ground-
water. Such information is frequently re-
quested from other activities within EPA
and from public and private interests out-
side of the EPA. The work done to date has
been used by Government and private engineers
and scientists, to more accurately assess
the impact of solid waste management practices
on the environment. Primary emphasis has
been in the sanitary landfill area. Two re-
ports have been published and future work
will update these basic reports. The Solid
Waste Information Retrieval System is used
along with other sources to perform this
activity.
NFTY
Sanitary Landfill Stabilization with Leachate
Recycling. Present scientific information on
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 01AAC
Task 09 (contd.):
leachate characteristics, mechanisms of
landfill decomnosition and leachate treat-
ment is at best minimal. A study relating
to recycling of leachate through ground
municipal refuse could provide such informa-
tion under controlled conditions. Such
information will be of significant value in
the design, construction and operation of
refuse landfills in the future. The public
health objectives of water and land pollu-
tion control could also be satisfied. Re-
cycling of leachate is a somewhat new and
unique approach. It is anticipated that
recirculation will provide a final means of
leachate control would be excessively opti-
mistic, but a study Will surely provide some
interesting and needed information. Sub-
stantial information on the feasibility of
leachate recycle as a practical and useful
method for accelerated landfill stabiliza-
tion and leachats treatment is needed before
large scale application of this concept. In
accordance with the above needs, 14-foot
simulated landfills have been operated to
determine the effect of leachate collection
and recycle on the rate of stabilization
within the fill, and the feasibility of using
the fill as a treatment process for the con-
stituents in the leachate. A review of the
available literature has been completed, and
has been included with experimental data as
part of a special research problem report.
Results indicate that stabilization of food
and garden wastes is accelerated by just re-
cycling leachate, and that addition of nu-
trients and seed, together with the control
of pH, can enhance the rate of stabilization.
Recommended design, operation and control
methods applicable to conventional sanitary
landfill practice will be developed.
Task 10 : Determine the Feasibility of Spray Irrigation
as a Leachate Treatment Method.Numerous
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 10 (contd.):
landfills in the United States have encoun-
tered problems with leachate emanating from
solid waste and contaminating surface waters
and/or groundwaters. Management of this
problem is usually most difficult when treat-
ment is found to be necessary before dis-
charge of leachate to the environment. Since
leachate contains large quantities of organic
materials and possible toxic concentrations
of metals, a practicable treatment scheme
will be difficult to develop. Spray irriga-
tion of leachate is a possible low-cost,
on-site treatment scheme that warrants fur-
ther investigation. The work is being
performed by EPA staff at the Boone County
Field Site, where other sanitary landfill
research projects are being conducted. Ten
test plots, each of 21 square feet surface
area, are used to evaluate the optimum load-
ing rates on sandy soil and on a clay soil.
Results to date indicate that a loading rate
of 150 pounds BOD5 per acre per day appear
to have little detrimental effect of the
bluegrass cover crop, and that percolate
from 18 inches of soil indicates removal
efficiencies from 50 to 95 percent for the
organic and inorganic constituents of leach-
ate. This work has been conducted during
one growing season and definitely should be
conducted over several years to determine the
full impact of leachate on the soil and grass
system. The promising use of this treatment
scheme will greatly aid small landfill sites,
as they are not readily equipped to evaluate
such a system yet must solve a very real
leachate problem with limited resources.
Task 11 : Treatability of Leachate from Sanitary Land-
fills.Treatment of leachate from landfilTs
is a practical necessity in many cases, dhere
a sewerage system is available, treatment can
be performed at the central plant; otherwise,
treatment must be performed on-site. No
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 01AAC
Task 11 (contd.):
performance data Is available on lab, pilot,
or traditional wastewater methods. This re-
search grant effort is intended as a brief
survey of treatment methods, with pilot plant
application of the most feasible. Detailed
analyses of each method is not expected.
The final outcome of this study will be a
practical on-site treatment scheme, and an
evaluation of how much leachate can be added
to conventional domestic wastewater treat-
ment plants when leachate is discharged to a
sewerage system. It has been determined that
a conventional biological treatment plant can
accept up to 10 percent 1eachate-domestic
wastewater without effecting plant performance
significantly. The most promising on-site
treatment scheme appears to be anaerobic
lagooning, followed by aerobic polishing. A
pilot plant has been established, but results
from this portion of wrrk have not been ob-
tained as yet. This task should be completed
in FY 73.
Task 12 : Treatment of Leachate Generated from Sanitary
Landfills. The treatment of leachate from
many landfills in the United States is a
practical necessity. Research presently
underway is designed to give quick answers
to the question of how to treat this liquid,
since no lab, pilot, or field-scale data is
available. A more detailed study is needed
to determine process kinetics, the nature of
the organic fraction of leachate, and the
degree of treatment that may be obtainable
using conventional wastewater treatment meth-
ods. In addition, other methods of removing
pollutants from water are being studied be-
cause of the vast, range of contaminant con-
centrations and 1'low rates, and small volumes.
This contract was awarded in June of 1972
and results are not as yet available. The
final report, due in September 1974, should
provide the technical data needed to ration-
ally design on-site leachate treatment schemes
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 13 : Evaluate an Experimental Landfill of High
Ash Paper-mill Sludge. Land disposal of
high ash oulp and paper-mill sludges intro-
duces questions regarding the type of land-
fill construction most suitable for efficient
operations and for extending the life of
existing disposal sites. Very little infor-
mation is available in the literature on
the engineering behavior of oapermill sludges
placed in organized landfills or embankments.
The objective of this project is to find a •
satisfactory method for the disposal of pulp
and paoermill sludges. The investigator has
constructed, instrumented, and observed an
experimental landfill of paoermill sludge.
Laboratory tests on high ash pulp and oaper-
mill sludges have been completed. The
field test facility has been constructed and
has been monitored for 1 year. Results to
date indicate that a maximum settlement of
36 inches can occur over a period of 1 year
for a 20-foot fill area. Correlations of
pore pressure and total stresses with soil
mechanics criteria hava been developed.
However, the correlation between inorganic
clay soils and papermill sludges for the
angle of internal friction (landslide char-
acteristics) does not appear to exist. Final
field testing will attempt to provide the
answers needed to develop this correlation.
Task 14 : Organic and Metal Characteristics of Leachate
from Selected LaruTfills in the United States.
Insufficient data are available in the litera-
ture to evaluate the environmental impact of
leachate with respect to heavy metals and
trace elements. It is conceivable that harm-
ful organic and inorganic complexes may be
present in leachate, being derived from the
extremely heterogeneous material being dis-
posed of in the landfill. Samples of leach-
ate from landfills located throughout the
United States with records pertaining to the
type of waste being disposed of at each par-
ticular landfill will be collected under con-
tract. These samnles will then be analyzed
using emission spectrography, followed by
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 01AAC
Task 14 (contd.):
atomic adsorption or other suitable analytical
technique, to quantify the presence of trace
and heavy metals and organic complexes. This
analytical work will be done under contract.
The expected output of this task will be
the accumulation of data on trace elements,
heavy metals, and organic complexes present
in leachate that represent dangerous dis-
charges to the environment. With this back-
ground of information, the design engineer
and regulatory engineer can more rationally
evaluate the environmental impact of leachate
and the methods needed for control.
Task 15 : Evaluation of Landfill Liners. The effective
life of commonly used liners for leachate
collection over a range of conditions com-
monly encountered in various landfills needs
to be evaluated. The objective of this
project is to evaluate various synthetic
membranes, asphaltic concrete, and soil addi-
tives for containment and collection of
leachate in landfills. It is anticipated
that this effort will involve the use of large
lysimeters constructed in a laboratory.
Task 16 : Pollution of Subsurface Water by Sanitary
LandfilTTBearing in mind that the long-
range objective of this study is to provide
means for not only predicting the movement
of contaminants from sanitary landfills in
groundwaters, but also to develop methods of
design and remedial procedures for reducing
undesirable contaminant movement as well as
various criteria for the evaluation of site
suitability for sanitary landfill operations,
it would seem that the most difficult por-
tion of this research is yet to come. Al-
though the data is now being collected
routinely, its incorporation into mathematical
models which will reliablv predict the ef-
fects of sanitary landfill uoon pollution of
subsurface waters under the many diverse com-
binations of impossible conditions, is dif-
ficult at best and perhaps sometimes impossible.
8
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 16 (contd.):
Some of these conditions are: quantity and
schedule of orecioitation , tyoes of sub-
surface materials, aerial size of the sanitary
landfill, depth of the landfill, character of
the landfill materials, surrounding tono-
graohy, and other factors. The knowledge
which can be gained of the effects of sani-
tary landfills on pollution of subsurface
waters is lacking at the present time;
therefore, the continuing effort should be
most worthwhile. The development of mathe-
matical design models has been initiated.
These models are being developed from data
obtained from monitoring controlled labora-
tory and field sanitary landfills. The
models will describe the hydrologic func-
tions of a sanitary landfill and site-geo-
logic materials. It is expected that final
models will be used in the determination of
optimum landfill dimensions, soil cover
thickness, potential remedial procedures
for existing leaching landfills, and associ-
ated studies. Results to date have provided
extensive long-term data concerning leachate
quality during the most active years of de-
composition. This project is to be completed
by November 1972. The nresent interest in
leachate and the r.eed for its control can in
part be credited to the data obtained under
this research grant.
Task 17 : Conduct Quality Controlled Evaluations of
Selected Sam' tary Landfil 1 Processes . TTTe
Boone County Field Site was constructed for
utilization as a quality control test facil-
ity under direct jurisdiction and supervision
of personnel within the Land Disoosal Project
of the Disposal Technology Branch. By hav-
ing complete control and"supervision of a
field test installation, along with appropri-
ate monitoring by use of various gauges and
electrical instruments, a good, sophisticated
field test investigation could be performed.
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 17 (contd.):
Test cells are to be constructed in the
same manner and under conditions similar to
those which would occur under normal sani-
tary landfill operations. By doing it in
this manner, we will be able to duplicate
existing landfill conditions and thereby
eliminate the problem of scaling factors.
Scaling factors occur when laboratory work
is not directly equitable to field condi-
tions. Because of the concern with the
environmental effects of disposing solid
waste on the land, various aspects of leach-
ate, gas, and settlement will be investi-
gated at the Boone County Field Site. Test
cell number 1 was constructed as a control
cell and was heavily instrumented to monitor
gas, settlement, temperature, and leachate.
This cell was also an integral part of the
"Virus Survival and. Movement Study." Test
cell number 2 was constructed to be completely
enclosed by a synthetic membrane in order to
obtain quantitative and qualitative data en
leachate generation. In addition, three 6-
foot diameter simulated sanitary landfill
cells will be compared to determine testing
variability, the aggregate results will be
compared to the performance of the lined,
field-scale cell. Results from test cell 2
will be used to determine the direct aoplica-
bility of conclusions from test cell 3 field
conditions. Mass flow rates of leachate
carrying pollutants will also be determined
on a field-scale basis. Test cell 3 will be
a comprehensive investigation using 19 six-
foot diameter simulated cells. Objectives
are multiple, but essentially the following
areas will be evaluated:
1. Leachate quality and quantity under
3 different rainfall conditions.
2. Effect of sewage sludges on decom-
position rates.
10
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 01AAC
Task 17 (contd.):
3. Virus survival under winter condi-
tions.
4. Effect of nutrient and pH control
on decomposition.
5. Gas production rates.
6. Effect of industrial liquid waste
disposal on solid waste decomposi-
tion.
Results from this long-term study will be a
sound basis for landfill design and manage-
ment. In addition, modifications to the
basic sanitary landfill method will be de-
veloped to optimize this disposal method
with respect to its utility as a management
tool. The following conclusions can be
made from results obtained to date:
1. Settlement has been negligible,
thereby casting serious doubt on
the present rule of thumb of 20
percent settlement in the first
2 years.
2. Leachate characteristics from a
field-scale cell are similar to
those reported for laboratory-
scale cells.
3. Methane production is slower in
the field-scale cell than in most
laboratory-scale cells.
Task 18 : Investigation of Leachate Pollutant Attenua-
tion in_ Soils."The migration of leachate
from a landfill occurs through the surround-
ing soil media. Soil can act as a filter
for leachate contaminants. Therefore, the
various attenuation mechanisms of soil need
to be evaluated and related to leachate
11
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 18 (contd.):
movement through the soils. This project
will identify the attenuation mechanisms;
evaluate pollutant attenuation of soils by
column studies; develop simulation models
for prediction of solute changes for water
flow through soils. This contract is ore-
sently being awarded and it is anticipated
that empirical predictive equations relat-
ing to leachate pollutant attenuation in
soils can be developed.
Task 19 : Survival and Movement of Viruses in Land-
fillea bohd Haste. I he ob.iecti'vpg nf th^c
project are to determine the survival pat-
terns of viral pathogens in landfilled solid
waste, and to evaluate the potential con-
tamination of water resources through leach-
ing of viruses from a waste disposal site.
Microbiologic monitoring of leachates from
cells #1 and #2 is being conducted in order
to determine the degree of health hazard
involved in solid waste disposal by land-
filling. The results so far indicate that
poliovirus may survive in compacted solid
waste for at least 13 days at temperatures
of 68-80°F, but the virus is inactivated
in 2-4 days in a landfill with temperatures
ranging from about 120-140°F.
Task 20 : Time-Settlement Behavior of Processed Refuse.
Among the primary problems associated with~
the reclamation o.e sanitary landfill sites
is the occurrence of large amounts of settle-
ment, resulting in structural damage and
expensive compensating design features. The
primary objective of this research is to de-
velop a means of predicting settlement pat-
terns within the landfill mass. Based on
knowledge accured from this effort, pre-
dictions for future settlement of currently
existing landfills may be determined. In
return, this information will assist in
planning future landfills to expediate and
to maximize the beneficial use of the com-
pleted fill site. Settlement characteristics
. 12
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 20 (contd.):
as effectuated by biological and chemical
activity as well as mechanical orocesses
form the basis for nredicing amounts of
settlement and time of occurrence of settle-
ment in sanitary landfills. Actual work
currently in process includes laboratory
testing, data gathering, mathematical model-
ing, and computer programming. A formal
report based on work so far completed is
now under preparation.
Task 21 : Develop and Evaluate a Process for Rapid
STructural Stabilization of Sanitary Land-
fills by~~Injection Grouting. The objective
of this project is to determine the effect
of different grout-refuse combinations on
landfill strength and settlement character-
istics. The influence of grout on biological
decomposition and long-term landfill sta-
bilization is also being determined. Time
settlement data from lab and field testing
are recorded and leachate analyses performed.
The preliminary testing of various grouts
and grouting materials in various combina-
tions with refuse has been completed. Lab-
oratory results indicated that a grout
composed of 50 percent fly ash and 50 per-
cent water was most beneficial for use in
the field exoeriment. The evaluation of the
grouted and ungrouted lab and field specimens
indicated the grouted specimens produced a
marked settlement reduction (less than 0.001
in./day) with a corresponding increase in
the rate of anaerobic biological decomposition
as measured by short chain fatty acids. This
would tend to indicate an early biological
stabilization. The leachate analyses indi-
cated that the level of potential pollutants
from the grouted specimens was higher than
from the ungrouted specimens, but the quantity
of leachate produced is considerably less in
the grouted specimens. Thus, it would appear
13
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 21 (contd.):
that the total amount of pollutants introduced
into the surrounding soil media would be less
than the amount introduced by an ungrouted
landfill. To date, some minimal results in-
dicate that methane production was inhibited
in the grouted refuse specimens. The first
annual report is presently being prepared.
A final report will be prepared relating all
investigative efforts, and with recommenda-
tions presented as to the (1) effectiveness
of injection grouping of the landfills with
inexpensive waste materials in accelerating
the stabilization of sanitary landfills, and
(2) reducing the produc;ion of leachate and
gas.
Task 22 : Investigate Landfill Gas Movement and Control.
Decomposition of organic wastes will yieia
gaseous products such as methane, carbon di-
oxide, and hydrogen sulfide. The uncontrolled
movement of gases emanating from sanitary
landfills can create safety and health hazards
and possibly contaminate groundwater or e1-
fect vegetation. It is anticipated that the
movement of gas from a landfill can be de-
scribed by existing technology in the area
of gas movement through porous media. A
contract to provide a state-of-the-art report
with recommendations for future work is
planned to be awarded in FY 73. The result
of this work will be an evaluation of present
technology and the need for additional work
in this area. Efficient, rational design
of gas control systems is dependent on the
ability to determine gas movement at a parti-
cular site.
Task 23 : Landfill Settlement Study to Determine Design
Criteria?At present, recommended practice
is to use the completed landfill area for re-
creational purposes. In order to utilize the
completed landfill area for building sites,
appropriate settlement design criteria need
14
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 23 (contd.):
to be established. The purpose of this study
is to determine the appropriate factors re-
.lating to settlement of landfilled wastes;
analyze all existing settlement data and re-
late to appropriate background parameters;
develop settlement prediction methods from
this available information for use in design •
criteria.
Task 24 : Develop and Evaluate Predictive Models of
Moisture Movement in Landfill Cover Material.
Production of leachate from solid wastes
disposed of on land is dependent on the in-
digenous distribution of precipitation. Pre-
sently, there is no available demonstrated
means of predicting the time and flow rates
of leachate production. This information is
needed to produce a rational evaluation of
the environmental impact of sanitary land-
fills. In addition, it may be practicable to
design the cover of a sanitary landfill to
prevent the occurrence of leachate. Basic-
ally, this design would optimize cover slope,
evaporation-transpiration, infiltration, run-
off, and erosion to keep the volume of liquid
entering the deposited solid waste at a
minimum. Extensive basic information is
available in a number of different disciplines;
this knowledge must be brought together to
provide the design engineer and regulatory
engineer with the best tools with which to
evaluate the need for control of leachate.
Task 25 : Provide Analytical Support to Boone County
Field Site. The purpose of this task is to
provide additional analytical capability for
Task 17, BCFS. Rapid and timely results
necessary for control of the various experi-
ments conducted at the Boone County Field
Site will be possible only with a contract
such as this. Present EPA analytical staff
assigned to BCFS are not capable of analyz-
ing periodically, large numbers of samples.
Specific tests will be limited to routine
water and'solids tests.
15
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 01AAC
Task 26 : Determination of the Effects of Compost on
Selected Soils and Plants." The task objec-
tive is to obtain data to help determine
short- and long-term effects of compost pro-
duced from municipal refuse on selected
soils and plants. Emphasis is being directed
at determining use benefit relationships
and the fate of heavy metals and other po-
tentially toxic materials when the compost
is applied to selected soils and olants.
There is a dearth of data relative to what
happens to waste material containing po-
tential toxic substances when disposed of on
the land. There is also an interest in more
fully utilizing the land as a disposal sink
and processing medium for various wastes (e.
g. , municipal refuse, industrial sludges,
sludge wastewater, etc.). Comoletion of
this task will provide some of the data not
available relative to the fate of potentially
toxic substances contained in wastes disposed
of on land.
16
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 02AAE
EROS/ROAP TITLE:
ROAP APPROACH
Task 01
Task 02
Task 03
"Effectiveness and Modeling of Urban Storage,
Collection, and Transportation Practices"
Via selected contracts and research grants,
collection, transporation, and storage meth-
ods of urban areas will be improved by pro-
viding practical methods for optimizing
col lection'vehicle routing and districting.
A theoretical model to measure the effec-
tiveness of existing and developed methods
will be developed in four contracts.
GT
To Develop a Transferable Refuse Collection
and Routing Package Including Manuals, User
Guides, and Associated Programs For Use by
Cities to Upgrade Their Solid Waste Collec-
tion, Districting, and Routing Operations.
To Develop and Demonstrate Analytical Models
to Aid in Solving of Ma"Jor Decisions, Opera^
tional Problems ^InvesHrnent Probl ems , and
Districting Problems in Solid Waste Collec-
tion. The objectives of
develop and extend, 'on a
trict by district basis,
in specific areas of the
this project are to
macro-scale or dis-
mathematical models
solid waste collec-
tion and disposal process. The purpose is
to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
These areas are: (1) the optimal location
of facilities such as truck depots, transfer
stations, and incinerators, (2) study capital
budgeting and investment criteria for solid
waste management systems and develop guide-
lines, (3) mathematically analyze routing
and scheduling of collection vehicles operat-
ing over several districts, and (4) study
districting problems to find optimal subdis-
tricts for collection purposes. The models
and techniqu.es proposed are natural exten-
sions of previous work by Marks and Liebman.
Through sensitivity analysis, the influence
of alternate institutional arrangements,
policy decisions, and social constraints will
be studied. Finally, to test the validity
and applicability of the models to be developed,
17
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 02AAE
Task 03 (contd.):
data from the City of Brookline, Massachusetts,
which has demonstrated cooperation in this re-
search, will be used. The progress as of
October 10, 1972 has been good in the areas
of (1) community level model development and
(2) regional level model development. Under
community level model development, the major'
accomplishment has been in analytically divid-
ing an area into well defined collection as-
signments, specifically in dealing with an
8 truck-40 district problem in Brookline.
This was accomplished with a heuristic al-
gorithm developed under this grant. The
regional level model has also been developed
and is presently undergoing shakedown runs
on the computer. Further expansion of this
model is planned to include time variables
and multiple source-sink situations for op-
timizing major facility location problems.
Task 04 : To Develop a Computer Program Utilizing
Mathematical Optimization and Heuristic Al-
gorithm for Routing of Collection Vehicles.
The objective of this research is to study,
on a micro-scale or street by street basis,
the routing of solid waste collection vehicles
in urban areas. The research is aimed at
developing mathematical optimization as well
as heuristic algorithms for the routing of
these vehicles. The best of the algorithms
will become part of a computer program, which
will be designed for easy use by city offi-
cials and consulting engineers. Included
will be a number of street layout situations
within one district with combinations of one-
and two-way streets. Specifically, the re-
search plan is to (1) further investigation
of travelling saleman approaches, (2)"develop
a mathematical optimal algorithm for the
Chinese postman problem with bidirectional
and unidirectional streets, (3) develop math-
ematical optimal algorithms for solving the
multiple-postman Chinese postman problems and
18
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 02AAE
Task 04 (contd.):
the multiple-saleman traveling saleman
problem, (4) develop heuristic algorithms
for the above problems, and (5) incorporate
the most promising algorithms in a comouter
program package designed for easy use and
write the necessary users manual. The re-
sults to date (October 10, 1972) are: (1)
a new algorithm for the traveling salesman
and the multiple-saleman problem was developed,
but found to be inefficient, (2) a mathema-
tical method was developed for optimal (not
heuristic) algorithm solutions to the postman
approach for a network of directed (two-way)
and unidirected (one-way) streets, and (3)
work in continuing on the multiple-postman
approach and at coding existing algorithms
for ease of use.
Task °5 ' To Develop Methods for Routing Street Sweepers
in Conjunction with ParkTruj Regulations and"
Enforcement Procedures. This research grant
investigates a problem that has long been
neglected. Exoeriments will be conducted to
develop and expand a data base used to in-
vestigate the relationship of on-street park-
ing to street cleaning. The ultimate objec-
tive is to develop and optimize a model for
constructing mechanized sweeper routes in
conjunction with parking regulations, enforce-
ment procedures, and other similar factors.
The model will aid in predicting the effects
of various sweeping policies and the inter-
action between solid waste collection, park-
ing, parking violations, land-use, street
traffic. The current funding action takes
full advantage of initial work at Brooklyn
Polytech in this area which dates back at
least 18 mon.ths prior to the award of this
grant. A basic "data bank" already exists
for a 300 block area of upper Manhattan, New
York. The area is essentially equal to a
New York City Sanitation Department district,
and a tremendous amount has already been done
19
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 02AAE
Task 05 (contd.):
in collecting generation rate and vehicle
parking data. A good working relationship
with the City government is insured via
the first Deputy City Administrator, who has
a keen interest in optimizing street sweep-
ing through this mathematical technique. An
effective procedure for optimizing sweeoing •
of streets will aid in reducing the problems
of overloading sewers. The study will also
complement other SWRL efforts to optimize
solid waste collection routing, districting,
facilities location, etc.
Task °6 : To Develop Criteria to Measure the Effective-
ness of Urban Refuse Storage, Collection, and
Transportation Practices. The solid waste
management system of the typical urban com-
munity represents a significant burden upon
its resources, often ranking in cost immedi-
ately after such functions as education,
police and fire protect-.on. Further, it has
been estimated that perhaps between 75-80
percent of this solid waste system cost is
due to storage, collection, and transportation,
the remainder being attributable to disposal.
Given an adequate accounting system, the mone-
tary costs of a solid waste management system
are much easier to compute than are the bene-
fits produced and the nonmonetary cost in-
curred. Thus, although a community may have
an accurate estimate of what it is spending
upon its system, it more often than not is'
uncertain as to whether or not it is receiv-
ing reasonable value in benefits returned,
i.e., it has little or no idea of its system
efficiency or "cost effectiveness." What is
needed, then, is some measure of effectiveness
or index for each of the system elements,
storage, collection, and transportation.
(NOTE: Land disposal and processing facilities
such as incinerators, grinders, etc., are
excluded from the oroposed scope of work as
it is intended that they will be investigated
• 20
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 02AAE
Task 06 (contd.):
elsewhere at a later date. Transfer station
operations, however, as they form part of a
solid waste transportation system, are not
so excluded.-)
One may visualize a model relating a measure
of effectiveness for solid waste collection,
for example, itself some function of variables
such as collection frequency, the intensity
and duration of the noise involved to which
citizens are exposed, the degree to which
collection vehicles interfere with normal
traffic flow, etc., to variables which af-
fect collection effectiveness such as the
topography of the community, the tyoe of
solid waste system employed, climatic factors,
housing type, population density, etc. (Anal-
ogous models could be considered dealing with
storage and transportation individually, and
one involving all three elements simultaneous-
ly: storage, collection, and transportation.)
If such models could be determined, they
could serve to identify significant controll-
able variables as a prelude to introducing
changes into the existing solid waste manage-
ment system for the purpose of optimizing
system effectiveness. Even without such models,
however, the measures of effectiveness then-
selves can be used directly in several ways:
a) To allocate solid waste resources
within the community;
b) To monitor systeir effectiveness,
to detect changes with time, and
to identify problem areas;
c) To facilitate comparisons among
communities of relative system
effectiveness;
d) To select, evaluate, and regulate
private collectors;
21
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 02AAE
Task 06 (contd.):
e) To evaluate special programs.
In order then to either evaluate or optimize
a solid waste storage, collection, and trans'
oortation system, the significant variables
that reflect upon the performance of the
system must be identified, quantified, and
combined by some model to produce one or
more measures of effectiveness. The purpose
of the proposed contract, therefore, i's to
develop effectiveness measures for the solid
waste management functions of storage, col-
lection, and transportation, and for the
solid waste management system (exclusive of
disposal) as a whole.
Tasks 07-11 : NFTY
22
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.
EROS/ROAP TITLE
ROAP APPROACH
Task 01
Task 02
Task 03
Task 04
05ABZ
"Field Testing and Analysis of Prepared
Solid Waste as a Fuel in a Variety of
Power and Heating Boilers"
Based on the results of ongoing work,
additional grants and contracts will be
solicited to utilize solid waste as a fuel.
The initial work will concern itself with
the preparation of the waste for combustion,
the second phase will be an evaluation of
the combustion, characteristics of the pre-
pared refuse by actual field tests in
various types of boilers.
6T
(Handled through OPC, NERC-Cincinnati.)
To survey existing he.at generation plants
for selection as potential field test sites.
To evaluate prepared solid waste as a fuel.
Develop field test program including definT-
tion of prepared solid waste type, condition,
etc.The objective of this work is to better
utilize solid waste as a supplementary fuel
in fossil fuel fired boilers. The initial
work will consist of a survey, potential
boiler test sites, and to identify any orob-
lems of testing or modification of the
boiler to accept solid waste as part of the
fuel. The work will also include a test
plan to be used as a guide in computing the
second and third years' work.
To conduct field resting of selected heat
g e7Te ra t ion plants to '"recover" heat from pre-
pared solid waste as a fuel
Dependent on
field tests
the output from Task No. 03,
will be conducted on the most promising sites
described during the earlier work. The tests
will provide specifications or criteria for
burning solid waste in the different types
of boilers. The results will be drawn to-
gether and the best system for utilizing
solid waste as a supplementary fuel will be
designated. If successful, we will open up
23
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D.: 05ABZ
Task 04 (contd.): an entirely new area of solid waste
management that meets the needs of waste
processors, resource recovery, and lessens
the demand for fossil fuel.
24
-------
EROS/ROAPI.D. : 06 AKO
EROS/ROAP TITLE: "Stimulation of Private Industry to Improve
Resource Recovery Technology"
ROAP APPROACH
1) Determine quality specifications necessary
for acceptance of secondary materials by primary
producers and develop standardized testing pro-
cedures. To evaluate quality of materials; 2)
identify manufacturing, processing, and recycling
technological problems that are inhibiting use of
recovered materials, and 3) develop case studies
for more important problems.
Task 01
GT
Task 02
To determine the specifications for imput required
by manufactures for recovered materials. The
objective is to formulate a set of descriptive
specifications for paper, glass, ferrous, and
nonferrous metals recovered from mixed municipal
refuse. An evaluation procedure will be develooed
to determine the usefulness of the developed
specifications to professional, trade, and private
organizations. Meaningful specifications for
materials recovered from refuse would provide
criteria to aid product and process quality control
for resource recovery systems.
Task 03
To develop a standardized testing procedure for
recovered materials. The objective of th-is t^l
is to develop statistical sampling plans by which
the solid waste product specifications develooed
in similar work will be monitored. This means
sampling and test procedures to monitor each unit
operation in a resource recovery processing facility
as well as sampling plans for the products separated
from municipal waste. In addition, the procedures
necessary for testing and establishing the final
specification must be chosen. The cost effectiveness
of the entire sampling and test procedure is to be
25
-------
analyzed. Since any production oriented plant
requires quality control measures for effective
operation, a successful high volume refuse
separation and recovery plant will require these
same control devices.
Task 04 : To determine the role of transportation in resource
recovery.The task objective is to provide an
indepth analysis of the effects of transportation
on the costs and operations of salvage firms.
Specific aims are (1) to quantify the actual
transportation costs (inbound and outbound) as a
percentage of firm sales and costs of goods sold,
(2) to identify the freight rate considerations
in purchasing and pricing oolicies, (3) to define
the constraints on increased recycling that trans-
portation costs place on salvage firms, and (') to
compare transportation costs for secondary
materials with virgin materials for similar situa-
tions for a specific area. Phase I consists of
data collection to characterize the operation of
firms and identify internal and external factors
affecting transportation considerations in the
salvage industry. Phase II will include an
analysis of the critical factors and determine
the sensitivity of the transportation parameter
on operations of salvage firms.
Task 05-06 : To identify the most important technological
problems inhibiting the increased use by
manufactures of recovered materials. To develop
extensive case studies of four of these problems
areas so identified. The objective is to identify
those areas of resource recovery where techno!oqy
could be improved to yield higher quality products
from secondary materials. Presently, material
recovered from municipal refuse is contaminated
and, thus, often objectionable to industries in-
volved in secondary materials processing. After
identifying areas where technology can be improved,
26
-------
selected ones will be investigated to determine
the methods needed for upgrading materials re-
covered from municipal refuse. 'Upgrading the
quality of the materials recovered from municipal
refuse would appreciably improve the poor economics
currently associated with most resource recovery
schemes, Since the slow emergence of resource
recovery schemes has been blamed on poor economics,
successful completion of this work would help to •
speed the establishment of resource recovery
systems.
Task 07 : NFTY
27
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 06ALR
EROS/ROAP TITLE:
ROAP APPROACH
Task 01
Task 02
Development of Techniques for the Characterization,
Treatment and Disposal of Hazardous Waste Materials,
Including Pesticides."
Develop techniques for the characterization, treatment,
and disposal of selected hazardous waste materials that
are not presently being disposed of properly. Handling
and disposal systems that are presently being used
successfully for some hazardous waste materials will be
applied to the materials with similar properties among
the aforementioned selected group. Laboratory and pilot
scale investigations will be carried out on others on
the list. The selected materials include, but are not
linited to; industrial chemical wastes, pathogenic wastes,
and a wide variety of pesticides and pesticide containers.
Disposal will include techniques for controlling the
collection of these materials.
GT
FPY
Task 03
Task 04
Recommended methods for disposal of hazardous wastes.
Based upon the findings of the hazardous waste survey
(fi '72 ROAP, Task 02, Contract No. 68-03-0032), the
contractor is to recommend acceptable methods for the
disposal of the listed hazardous wastes. Presently
being determined in the effectiveness of current hazard-
ous waste disposal practices, and recommendations
involving other acceptable techniques and conducting
research to modify or develop other handling and disposal
techniques will be made. Through these investigations
it is anticipated that adequate methods for disposal of
specific hazardous materials will be described.
Attitudinal research on disposal of hazardous wastes.
This research involves attitudinal research, the results
of which will be used to develop a public awareness pro-
gram for the dissemination of information on hazardous
wastes, to evaluate the phychological effects and the
sociological impact of a system of regional sites to
properly handle these wastes. It is anticipated that
this research effort will alleviate objections and
opposition to specific sv-:es and will generate public
support for a national disposal site system.
28
-------
Task 05 : Non-industrial toxic and hazardous wastes. Prior
research (FY '72 ROAP, Task 02), because of the
broadness and complexity, did not include municipal
waste streams as a source of hazardous waste. This
task will determine the types and quantities of
hazardous waste in municipal streams. It is antici-
pated that this research effort will be a significant
addendum to the overall hazardous waste program. It
will provide a basis for deciding whether hazardous
wastes in municipal streams should be considered for
disposal at national disposal sites or some other
collection and disposal system.
Task 06 : Toxicological studies. Many of the materials listed
in the surveys and for which recommended methods of
disposal have been generated will lack adequate
information describing their toxicity. Since the
rating systems developed for the materials and the
disposal techniques are primarily based upon toxicity,
it is necessary to conduct toxicclogical studies for
those materials for which this irformation is lacking.
• Interagency agreements with DOD will be used to
collect dermal, respiratory, and ingestion toxicity
data on the materials in question. It is anticipated
that the information gained from this study will make
the list of hazardous wastes more comprehensive and
will supply a sound basis for establishing the adequacy
of the recommended disposal methods.
Task 07 : Pesticide and pesticide container disposal. In addi-
tion to the demands of P.L. 91-512, Section 212, the
pending Federal Insecticice, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
specifically charges the EPA Administrator as follows:
"Section 19. Disposal and transportation
The Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency shall, after consultation with
other interested Federal agencies, establish
procedures and regulations for the disposal or
storage of excess amounts of such pesticides.
The Administrator would be also required to accept
at convenient locations for safe disposal a pesti-
cide the registration of which has been cancelled
under section 6(c) if requested by the owner of
the pesticide..."
29
-------
In view of this pending legislation which is very
near passage, a definite need exists to award a
contract or grant which will pull together informa-
tion concerning pesticide disposal. It is anticipated
that such an effort will indicate whether or not
pesticides should be considered separately from the
overall stream of hazardous wastes and what manage-
ment system is necessary for their collection and
disposal.
30
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. :
EROS/ROAP TITLE:
ROAP APPROACH :
Task 01
Task 02
09ABF
"An Analyses of the Impact that Future National
Behavior will have on Resource Recovery Program
Requirements."
Forecast the future consumer spending and industrial
production in the U.S. using dynamic economic
techniques. Then develop a model to predict the make-
up of the future solid waste stream using future consumer
spending patterns and industrial production as input and
determine the economic sectors that will be the major
producers of solid waste. Identify the areas where
additional source reduction and resource recovery
research is needed.
GY
Forecast future consumer spending and industrial
production, predict make-up of future solid wasFe
?tream. and determine the economic sectors tnat
will be major producers of solid v.aste. Search
literature, survey state-of-the-art, and review in
?tjtaTnm related work, horecast consumer spending
ahd Industrial production up to i^9U include botn
confidence and range. Develop a model to precncT
Tuture make-up of solid waste stream using consumer
"spending and industrial production as input.
This task includes the development of a predictive
model of household solid waste generation based upon
consumer purchasing of specific product categories,
the estimated lengths of useful lives of the products,
and the material composition of the products. The
task will identify and discuss any likely changes in
technology or consumer products that might have an
effect on future solid waste generation by households.
Particular attention is to be paid to trends in the
use of disposable items.
Primary attention is to be given to municipal refuse
rather than homogeneous industrial refuse since the
municipal wastes seem to be the larger problem areas.
The economic sectors mentioned in the task description
refer to the various producers of materials that even-
tually end up as municipal refuse rather than indus-
trial producers of wastes,
31
-------
Task 03 : Forecast solid waste technology and management
techniques (being implemented by ROAP Task No.
24ABV).This task to forecast the development
and improvement of solid waste management technology
was originally planned to be implemented under
another ROAP that was cancelled. The project is
still needed, however, to provide a complete picture
of possible future solid waste problems. Therefore,
some of the money in Task 02 will be reprogrammed
to support Task 03.
The task concerns technological forecasting relative
to the solid waste management industry. The purpose
of the work is to identify current solid waste
collection, processing, and disposal problems that
might be resolved by technological improvements and,
identify problem areas that might better be resolved
by affecting waste generation rates.
Conceivably, solid waste management technology could be
in a state of change that might enable it to handle
many wastes in the future that are causing problems
today (hazardous wastes, bulky .vastes, PVC, etc.).
If this is the case, efforts to attack the generation
of these wastes might better be spent elsewhere. This
task is intended to provide evaluations of such situations,
Task 04 : Identify areas where additional source reduction and
resource recovery research is needed. Identify and
rank future solid waste problem areas. Identify areas
. where additional source reduction and resource recovery
research is needed. Assign priorities. Program (PERT)
the research programs proposed.
This task is the "analysis section" of the ROAP with
attention being given to assimilating all previous work
and identifying those wastes that seem to present the
greatest potential problems. The task will include
in-depth discussion of the potential contribution of
each of the sectors of the municipal solid waste stream
to environmental problems. With an assessment of the
potential effect of source reduction and resource
recovery programs designed to lessen the effects.
32
-------
The results of the task will be extremely useful to
those Agency policy makers responsible for solid
waste programs to lessen environmental degradation.
The results will resolve many of the controversies
now surrounding the relative severity of solid waste
problems and will identify those areas to which incen-
tive programs should be addressed.
Task 05 : Hold a conference at NERC-Cincinnati. This task is
included to provide a means of publicizing the existence
of the solid waste predictive capabilities developed
under the ROAP and to provide a forum for discussing
the findings of the combined tasks.
33
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. :
EROS/ROAP TITLE:
ROAP APPROACH :
Task 01
Task 02-03
Task 04
Task 05
09ADA
"Wet Systems for Residential Refuse Collection."
The economic/technical feasibility contract funded
during FY-72 will detail specific research needs for
development of the most promising wet collection
alternatives. One such system will be developed to
the point of pilot scale demonstration.
GT
FPY
Technical/economic feasibility study of wet collection
systems. This research covers a systems analysis to
technically review and economically evaluate wet pipe-
lines for residential solid waste collection and
transport. The work is to complement the purely tech-
nical study by Foster-Miller Associates by carrying
out a rather detailed and computer-modelled study of
toe economics involved. Items such as rising labor
costs, construction of facilities, recycling oppor-
tunities, and comparisons to existing and forecasted
collection and transportation irethods are included.
The results should be a complete and accurate report
document representing the Environmental Protection
Agency position on wet pipeline transport from an
economic and social impact standpoint.
NFTY
34
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. :
EROS/ROAP TITLE:
ROAP APPROACH :
24ABV
"Behavioral and Systems Studies Re Reduction
of Solid Waste Loads"
Develop systems approach which identifies
key decision points in solid waste genera-
tion systems; develop economic-behavioral
models for the key decision points. Study
particular decision points in detail to
identify the types and levels of instruments'
most effective in altering decisions and
behavior.
NOTE: Policy changes instituted by Mr. Fri resulted in
drastic modifications of this ROAP. New tasks
currently are being formulated.
35
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 24 AIN
EROS/ROAP TITLE:
"Processes for Separation and Resource Recovery
of Wastes and Municipal Refuse"
ROAP APPROACH
A combination of contracts, research grants, and
in-house work will be conducted to evaluate approaches
to recover municipal solid waste as material or energy.
Processing methods for separating, upgrading, con-
verting, and utilizing from municipal"refuse will be
investigated.
Task 01
GT
Tasks 02-06
Task 06
To develop a solid waste reclamation pilot plant that
functions through material coding and subsequent
mechanical sorting. This task involves the develop-
ment and evaluation of various automatic sensing, cod-
ing, and separating devices for reclamation of munic-
ipal solid waste. The devices consist of a vortex
classifier to effect gravity separations; infrared,
impact, conductivity, spectroscopic and magnetic
sensors; coding and information systems in conjunction
with the sensor systems. Based upon results of
laboratory evaluations of selected devices, the aoal
is to construct and evaluate a functioning pilot plant
for the separation and reclamation of municipal solid
waste. The plant may also have application for
separation and reclamation of certain industrial solid
wastes.
36
-------
Task 07 : To develop an infra red spectral sensor to
facilitate solid waste material coding for
subsequent separation. The task objective
is to develoo and evaluate a sensor for the
automatic identification of the various com-
ponents present in municipal waste. The
principle of the sensor is to identify
materials based on reflected infrared radi-
ation at a wavelength characteristic of each
material. The task goal is to incorporate
the sensor, with appropriate switching devices,
into the refuse separation pilot plant being
developed at MIT under Research Grant No.
EP 00333 (Task No. 06).
Task 08 : To study the mechanics o1' refuse size reduction
for the purpose of commiriutor design specifi-
cally for refuse size reduction.The objectives
of tnis research are to obtain fundamental data
on the size reduction of municipal solid waste
and to provide a design of a machine specifically
for the reduction of refuse. Engineering and math-
ematical principles will be employed to describe
the fundamental mechanisns involved. Existing
equipment employed for solid wastes processinci
are primarily devices designed for rock crushing
and comminution of other brittle materials. This
equipment has not exhibited any functional'degree
of reliability when applied to solid wastes size
reduction. Since reduction of solid waste has been
extremely costly, successful completion of this re-
search could aid in significantly reducing the cost -
of solid waste processing. This could greatly effect
the economics of various resource recovery schemes
and other solid waste management techniques.
Task 09 : To optimize pilot plant procedures for production
of protein from cellulosic waste. The task objective
is to optimize an existing pilot plant for the pro-
duction of sinqle cell protein from cellulosic
wastes. The pilot plant was designed to manage
specialized solid wastes and not as an answer to the
total municipal refuse problem. Homogeneous waste
37
-------
resulting from agricultural activities (e.g.,
straw, bagasse, sawdust, fruit and vegetables
residues, etc.) can be processed into single
cell protein for use as livestock feed. If
process optimization proves economically
feasible, the process will offer an attractive
alternative to landfilling and incinerating
this specialized type of solid wastes.
Task 10 •' To fabricate single cell proteins from
eelluloslc waste. Single ceil Pmt.Pin pro-
duced from cellulosic waste has been proposed
for use as animal feed. However, if large
quantities of the protein are produced for
animal feed, the conventional grain markets
could be disrupted. Therefore, the objective
of this research task is to develop expanded
uses of the protein product. Potential pro-
ducts to be investigated are as follows:
(1) isolation of the protein in pure form for
use as dietary protein for human consumption,
(2) incorporate the protein into fibers for
use with synthetic fibers in the textile in-
dustry for improving drying properties, (3)
evaluation of the potentials of developing
biodegradable packaging materials and adhesives.
Successful developments of alternatives uses
would lead to higher valued products and the
higher cost .benefits could make fermentation
of selected cellulosic wastes a profitable
resource recovery alternative to existing
management methods of landfilling and incin-
eration.
Iask 11. : To develop pyrolytic methodology for conversion
of wood wastes to uTeful products.The conversion
of wood residues and cellulosic waste materials to
useful products using thermal degradation pro-
cedures are being investigated. Thermal degradation
presently yields a random mixture of products. The
task objective is to control the undersirable side
reactions and determine the conditions and/or cata-
lysts required for selective conversion of the wastes
to a few products acceptable for industrial uses.
38
-------
Iask 12 : To investloate conversion of waste glass to
form insulation, in this country m^o th=»n
five million tons of glass are discarded
annually in municipal waste. Only a small
percent of the discarded glass is recycled
into reusable containers since constraints
for doing so are great. Because of color
and impurities, virgin rather than recovered
glass is usually used by the industry. Since
technology is available for the recovery of
glass from municipal waste streams, the ob-
jective of this task is to develop foam glass
insulation from waste glass and determine its
market potential. The process being investi-
gated has great potential as an inexpensive
. method for converting waste glass into a
valuable insulation product.
Task 13
To study the formation of silicon carbide from
nee hulls, in the formation of silicon carbTde
from rice hulls, rssearch has shown that an iron
oxide catalysts increases the yield of silicon
carbide. The kinetics of the reaction and the
parameters that effect the rate of-silicon carbide
formation are being investigated. The products
are unusually high surface area materials which are
not available on an industrial basis, indicating
that a market is available for the products.
Successful task completion will provide a process
to help alleviate e specialized solid waste problem.
To explore the fundamental nature of pol.yblends
that can be made from plastic wastes found in "
refuse.The objective is to determine the
physical characteristics of polyblends that can
be made from the most common plastics found in
refuse in the actual occurring proportions.
Polyblends without additives have been studied and
several publications are in various stages of
preparation. Polyblends with additives which
increase physical strength have been found and a
study to optimize additive conditions and to de-
termine their strengths is currently proposed as
the third year effort.
39
-------
To evaluate separation and recovery techniques
on a unit process basis at pilot plant scale'.""
One task objective is to design, construct, and
evaluates pilot plant to accomplish automated
sorting of municipal refuse on a dry basis.
Emphasis is on adapting existing equipment and
processes to refuse sorting rather than the
development of new equipment specifically for
refuse. Equipment has been selected, procured,
and will be installed on a unit basis. The
second task objective is to design, construct,
and evaluate a pilot plant to study the scale-up
potential of various orocesses for the conversion
of cellulosic wastes to useable products. Fermen-
tation techniques, chemiccl conversion processes
and other similar techniques will be investigated
for processing specialized solid wastes. This
limited technological development is a necessary
approach currently being studied as a method to
induce a greater degree o- resource recovery
from municipal solid waste.
Task 1t5-19 : To test combined recovery unit processes as
recovery system configurations at pilot plant
scale. To perform economic analyses of pilot
plant recovery operations.Tb" design full
sgale recovery systems through expansion of'
pilot plant studies. To cevelop recommendations
for full scale application'of recovery system
configurations. Separation and recovery unit
processes will be arranged in a number of test
configurations to determine the most technically
efficient system to accomplish dry refuse material
extraction. Systems parameters will be established
and quality control and safety provisions will be
incorporated into the plant design. Economic
analyses of the most attra:tive systems configur-
tions will be performed. Recovered product values
will be determined. Each unit operation in the
recovery system will be required to pay for itself
in the value of material recovered. Demonstration
and full-scale recovery systems will be designed
as a function of the previous technical and
economic pilot plant studies. Full-scale systems
will be costed both capitally and operationally.
Following the design of full-scale recovery systems,
40
-------
alternative systems will be distinguished for
each operating type solid waste management unit.
flomographic systems relationships will be de-
veloped for towns of various sizes, costs,
taxes, etc. This apolication criteria will be
published at the completion of the studies.
Task 20 : To compare the feasibility of solid waste resource
recovery by material extraction vs. recovery"!?"—
aggregate material.The task objective is to
determine whether it is most feasible, both
technically and economically, to practice resource
recovery through central station extraction or
through usage of waste materials as an aggregate
material. At the time (FY-74) when this work is
executed, technical development studies of material
extraction techniqjes will have been initiated.
Also, studies of tne economic factors which affect
the degree and nature of resource recovery from
solid waste will have been undertaken. This con-
tract study will determine the course of future
research efforts in solid waste resource recovery.
For example, direction of the study will be in the
form of: It is most feasible to recover glass
through extraction and sale or to utilize waste
glass as part of a solid waste aggregate for con-
struction materials or for road paving?
21 : To evaluate dry fiber recovery processes. Wood
fiber in the form of wood and paper comprises a
majority of solid waste. Much of this wood-based
material is suitable for use in manufacturing
building products. This proposed research task
is aimed at determining the economics and engineer-
ing feasibility of using a dry process to recover
the fibers. The market potential will also be
studied. A dry fiber recovery process has some
significant benefits over conventional systems.
The absence of a pulp slurry eliminates drainage
problems, slime problems, and the stream pollution
problems associated with secondary fiber recovery
of wet process systems.
' 41
-------
Task 22 : To evaluate the technical and economic feasi-
blllty of material coding at manufacture for
refuse separation and reclamation at disposal
point.The objective is to determine if it is
feasible to "code" material at the manufacture
to facilitate automated sorting of refuse
materials at the disposal points. "Coding"
could take the form of some infrared identi-
fication of the material or utilization of
conductivity and impact properties of materials
as the coding "key". Materials could be coded
on basic material identity (e.g., ferrous, non-
ferrous, glass, paper, plastic). Materials
could be further broken down by types: ferrous,
no tin, ferrous with tin, etc. The coded materials
would be sorted by a computer controlled central
station machine that would identify the coded
objects and activate a sorting mechanism. If
feasible, this method of reclamation would elim-
inate the highly costly size reduction step now
required in separation operations and eliminate
much of the "Rube Goldbergism" in the development
of separation systems. The work will be a two
stage effort: (1) technical feasibility and (2)
economic feasibility.
Task 23 : To study the feasibility of the development of
new products from refuse. The task objective is
to design a modular home employing solid waste
as a building material aggregate. The waste will
be sorted into a light and a heavy fraction. The
light fraction will"be utilized in the production
of internal wall panels and the heavy fraction
will be as an aggregate in the concrete foundation
material. This work will furnish a possible alter-
native to extraction and sale of secondary materials
as a method of resource recovery from mixed
municipal wastes.
42
-------
Task 24 : To design a modular home from waste materials.
The investigator is studying ways to upgrade
auto scrap steel using various vacuum melting
refinement techniques (arc melting, electron-
beam melting, induction melting). Various
elements .detrimental to steel's mechanical
properties have higher vaoor pressure than
iron. Once the prooer conditions of temper-
ature and pressure are found on a laboratory
scale, then the vacuum meltino system will be
performed on a larger scale (several hundred
pounds) and the commerical feasibility of the
process determined. At the same time, electroslaq
melting is beina applied to the same task. In
electrbslag melting, the unwanted elements
must remain in a slan or combination of slaas
and allow the pure iron to solidify. This
research could provide c process for increasing
the market value of secondary steel.
Task 25 : To study methods of metal!uroically upgrading
automotive scrap steaK Techniques have been
developed for incorporating ground scrao from
old tires and rubber reclaimed from tires into
asphalt or coal tar. The develooment of a
blacktop driveway dress;ng utilizing this
rubber is the objective of the study. Ex-oer-
imental dressings incorporatinn various oer-
centages of scrap rubber have been applied in
a high density area of .1 selected parking lot.
Observation and evaluations are in progress.
Expected benefits are twofold: (1) utilization
of discarded rubber tires and (2) the availa-
bility of a safer and more durable blacktop
dressing.
43
-------
EROS/ROAP I.D. : 24AIO
EROS/ROAP TITLE:
ROAP APPROACH
Task 01
Task 02-010
Task Oil
"Development of an Incinerator Test Facility for
Evaluation of Operating Parameters, Emissions, and
Construction."
By employing a combination of Research Grants, Contracts,
and In-house work, the necessary knowledge on operating
parameters, emissions, and materials that are associated
with the thermal degradation of municipal solid waste
will be obtained and developed.
GT
FPY
Experimental and theoretical program to develop
criteria for the design and com-.rol of municipal
incinerators. The objective of this research is to
establish the design and control criteria essential
for the efficient operation'of -Incinerators. The
effect that variables, such as refuse composition
(particle size, density, moisture content) and the
amount and temperature of unden'ire air, have on the
burning rate will be investigated. The development
of control equipment criteria will be studied in
conjunction with the degree of burnout observed in
the fuel bed. An example of this would be control
of underfire air as the refuse "ravels along the
grate. As the degree of burnou" is increased, the
amount of underfire air would be decreased. One
of the rate controlling steps in combustion is the
pyrolysis of the organic fraction and, therefore, a
parallel study in pyrolysis wil'. be conducted to
obtain information necessary for modeling the conditions
in the fuel bed. Successful completion of this task
will advance the state-of-the-art of incinerator
design by further defining the combustion occurances
that take place i.n the fuel bed. In addition, the data
necessary for the development of control equipment will
also be generated.
44
-------
Task 012 : To conduct an overfire air mixing study to reduce
combustible emissions in municipal incinerators.
The task objective is to conduct an overfire air
mixing study to reduce combustible emissions in
municipal incinerators. This work resulted from
an earlier study that Arthur D. Little conducted
for the Office of Air Programs. Their study showed
that combustible pollutants could be theoretically
generated from the fuel bad and proposed the addi-
tion of jets in the secondary chamber to increase
turbulence, thus prolong residence time and complete
the combustion of the unburned fraction of pollutants.
The plan calls for determining the combustible frac-
tion of pollutants during normal operating conditions.
This will be followed by the inscallation and opera-
tion of jets in the secondary chamber. The difference
in the concentration of combustible pollutants will be
due to the additional turbulence created by the jets
and, possibly, a mechanism to decrease the amount of
pollutants emitted from municipal incinerators will
result. Successful completion of this task will
demonstrate another control technique that could be
employed to help existing and new municipal incinerators
bring combustible emissions under control.
Task 013 : To procure a pilot scale incinerator that will
stimulate conditions in municipal incinerators. .
The task objective is to procure a pilot scale incin-
erator that will simulate conditions in municipal
incinerators. The incinerator will be used to study
the emissions from municipal incinerators and their
relation to the operating parameters. A contract was
awarded to furnish the Thermal Degradation Project
with an incinerator that would simulate municipal
conditions.
Task 014 : Testing capability to investigate the operating
parameters associated with the incineration of
municipal solid waste. The task objective is to
obtain the testing capability to investigate the
operating parameters associated with the incineration
of solid waste. The Thermal Degradation Project was
seriously handicapped by the lack of manpower necessary
45
-------
to accomplish the goals of the in-house research.
The area of sampling and data collection was the most
critical. Therefore, this aspect of the work was
contracted to an outside group. We purchased 2000
man-hours of an existing Air Programs' contract and
only have to contact them to schedule the necessary
work. The main emphasis will be on the collection
of particulate samples.
Task 015 : To study the corrosion problems and relation of the
corrosion rate to the combustion conditions. The
task objective is to study the corrosion problems
and relation of the corrosion rate to the combustion
conditions. Earlier work in this area revolved
around the corrosion problems experienced by both
combustion chambers and wet air pollution control
devices. This work resulted in a wealth of metallur-
gical data as well as a proposed mechanism for the
corrosion of metal parts of an incinerator. The
present study is applying this work to the more
specific problem of suspected corrosion agents and
their concentration. The feed material into a
municipal size unit was determined as well as the
resulting corrosion. Next varying amounts of
chloride was added in the form of PVC plastic and the
change in the corrosion rate was noted; the difference
being due to chloride and plastic addition. Additional
tests are scheduled with the amount of chloride added
being varied. This should show a dependence of the
corrosion rate on chloride and give incinerator
operators additional information on the incineration
of chloride containing plastics. This research should
better define the problems of incinerating plastics.
Task 016 : To determine the technical and economic feasibility
of using molten salt pyrolysis technology for
pyrolyzing solid waste. The task objective is to
determine the technical and economic feasibility of
using molten salt pyrolysis technology for pyrolyzing
solid waste. There are numerous ways to upgrade
incinerators. One way is to find another process
that will do the same job only better. A candidate
system to evaluate is molten salt. We commissioned a
technical and economic feasibility study to provide
46
-------
us information about the economics of the system
and what is needed to make it technically workable.
We are interested in composition, degree of contamina-
tion, refuse preparation, ash removal, and methods of
stoking refuse into the reactor. Work of this nature
is needed to determine if molten salts are going be an
effective tool to use in solid waste management.
Task 017 : To establish relationships between the scrubber water
effluent and the corresponding stack conditions for a
given input into the scrubber. The task objective is
to establish the relationships between the scrubber
water effluent and the corresponding stack conditions
for a given input into the scrubber. The research will
determine the efficiency of the scrubber at various
operating conditions. If done properly, this is impor-
tant because it will eliminate one sample train and
cne sampling team during the- incinerator test program.
Jf the efficiency of the scrubber is known and we
sample furnace emissions ahead of the scrubber, we
can accurately determine the concentration of various
pollutants in the stack without actually sampling.
Task 018 : 1b establish the relationships between the operating
parameters of the incinerator and the re-suiting
particulate emissions. The task objective is to
establish the relationships between the operating
parameters of the incinerator and the resulting
^articulate emissions. This type of study is the
heart of the in-house program. In attempting to
-.mprove incinerator practices, we found very little
v/ork had been done on correlating the operating
parameters of the incinerator with the resulting
t-missions. Our study will investigate the emission
(if particulates as a function of underfire air
ciistribution, overfire air distribution, temperature,
turning rate, and the composition of refuse. In all
cases we will attempt to close the energy and material
balances as well as establish the relationships between
emissions and operating parameters. Successful comple-
tion of this task will allow the optimization of
incineration systems to achieve good combustion with
minimal air pollution.
47
-------
Task 019 : To establish the relationships between the gaseous
emissions and the operating parameters. The task
objective is to establish the relationships between
gaseous emissions and the operating parameters. If
possible, Task No. 19 will be conducted concurrently
with Task No. 18 and will be related to the same
parameters as described in Task No. 18.
Task 020 : To establish the relationships between the waterborne
effluent and the operating parameters. The task
objective is to establish the relationships between
the waterborne effluent and the operating parameters.
If possible, Task No. 20 will be completed concurrently
with Task No. 18 and related to the same parameters as
described in Task No. 18.
48
------- |