Risk perception and public acceptance toward a highly protested Waste-to-Energy facility

AbstractNature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as sustainable approaches to address societal challenges. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) has benefited by moving away from purely ‘grey’ infrastructure measures towards NbS. However, this shift also furthers an increasing trend of reliance on public acceptance to plan, implement and manage DRR measures. In this review, we examine how unique NbS characteristics relate to public acceptance through a comparison with grey measures, and we identify influential acceptance factors related to individuals, society, and DRR measures. Based on the review, we introduce the PA-NbS model that highlights the role of risk perception, trust, competing societal interests, and ecosystem services. Efforts to increase acceptance should focus on providing and promoting awareness of benefits combined with effective communication and collaboration. Further research is required to understand interconnections among identified factors and how they can be leveraged for the success and further uptake of NbS.

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Local Outbreak Of Respiratory Symptoms In A Waste-to-energy Facility

10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2010.181.1_meetingabstracts.a4709 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alexandra M. Preisser ◽

Dennis Wilken ◽

Xaver Baur

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Waste To Energy ◽

Energy Facility

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Improving the Public Acceptance of WTE: Session 8

15th Annual North American Waste-to-Energy Conference ◽

10.1115/nawtec15-002 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Peter A. Napoli ◽

Lindsey Sampson ◽

Robin Davidov ◽

Bettina Kamuk

Keyword(s):

Natural Gas ◽

Low Cost ◽

Waste To Energy ◽

Public Acceptance ◽

Full Potential ◽

The Public ◽

Public Consumption ◽

Energy Plant ◽

Consumption Demand

This topic is important because of the growing need for us to produce and supply low cost energy for public consumption. Demand has increased exponentially, and in order to reduce dependence on foreign oil, coal, and natural gas we need to utilize waste to its full potential. Three major waste to energy plant expansions are happening now at Olmstead WTE, Minnesota and at Lee and Hillsborough Counties, in Florida. New “Greenfield” construction is planned at Harford, Carroll, and Fredrick Counties, in Maryland.

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Advancements in Grate Cooling Technology

18th Annual North American Waste-to-Energy Conference ◽

10.1115/nawtec18-3569 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily M. Owens ◽

Joe Szczepkowski

Keyword(s):

Life Expectancy ◽

Calorific Value ◽

Waste To Energy ◽

Pilot Program ◽

Technical Paper ◽

Operation And Maintenance ◽

Energy Facility ◽

Cooling Technology

Over the last few years an increase in the calorific value of the waste has been observed at our waste-to-energy facilities. Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. in conjunction with Von Roll/Inova decided to install a zone of water-cooled grate blocks at the Millbury Massachusetts waste-to-energy facility as a pilot program. Common in Europe these water-cooled grate blocks address the issue of higher BTU waste and increase the overall life expectancy of the blocks compared to regular air-cooled grate blocks. This technical paper provides an overview on the installation, operation, and maintenance of a zone of water-cooled grate blocks. Discussed are the procedures for evaluating the overall project and some of the challenges we resolved.

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Odor Monitoring and Mitigation at the Hennepin County Waste to Energy Facility

15th Annual North American Waste-to-Energy Conference ◽

10.1115/nawtec15-003 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Jake Smith

Keyword(s):

Negative Pressure ◽

Waste To Energy ◽

The North ◽

Energy Facility ◽

Hennepin County ◽

Parking Lot ◽

Baseline Information ◽

Odor Monitoring ◽

Baseball Team ◽

The Impact

Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) is a waste to energy facility owned by Hennepin County and operated by Covanta Energy. HERC has been in operation since 1989. The facility burns 365,000 tons of residential and commercial solid waste per year and generates about 34 mega-watts of electricity that is sold to Xcel Energy. HERC is located on the north side of downtown Minneapolis in the Historic Warehouse District, a neighborhood that is changing from industrial to a more commercial/residential mix with loft conversions and construction of new condominiums. The Minnesota Twins baseball team is also siting a new stadium in the parking lot immediately southeast of the facility. The potential for odors from the tipping floor of the facility affecting the neighborhood has become more of a concern due to the changes in the neighborhood. In March 2004 the County began an odor study. This included developing baseline information on odors from HERC and from the surrounding community by conducting daily odor monitoring at select points on the facility property and throughout the community: • Determining how far odors from HERC migrate into the community. • Quantifying detected odors using a Nasal Ranger. • Determining the factors that contribute to these odors. • Developing a method of controlling these odors. • Continued monitoring to determine the impact of mitigation methods. Odors detected were characterized as garbage odors, garbage-related odors, and neighborhood odors. Baseline data showed that while garbage odors from HERC were mostly undetectable beyond the perimeter of the property, there was room for improvement in decreasing the presence and intensity of these odors. The tipping hall was designed to operate under negative pressure to control odors, however the entrance and exit doors were always open and a negative pressure could not be maintained.

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