December 12, 2005—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring new performance standards to reduce emissions of nine air pollutants from the last remaining category of waste incinerators requiring Clean Air Act regulation. The category, called “other solid waste incinerators” (OSWI), consists of very small municipal waste combustion units and institutional waste incineration units.
EPA says the final performance standards will reduce approximately 1,900 tons per year of air pollution from the estimated 248 incinerators estimated to be subject to the new standards.
Very small municipal waste combustion units are incinerators that burn less than 35 tons per day of municipal solid waste collected from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources. Institutional waste incineration units are incinerators located at institutions—such as public or private schools, churches or civic organizations—that burn solid waste generated on site.
EPA has already issued regulations to control emissions from large municipal waste combustors, small municipal waste combustors, medical waste incinerators, and commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators.
For additional information on this rule visit the EPA Web site.
