Opened in 1988, ecomaine’s Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant has been turning unrecyclable waste into renewable energy for more than 35 years. Two boilers operate around-the-clock, incinerating waste at over 2,000 degrees and using steam to generate electricity – all from the waste from Maine communities. The facility processes about 175,000 tons of trash a year, creating about 100,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually. That’s enough electricity to power our own waste-to-energy and recycling facilities, ecomaine’s electric vehicles, plus about 15,000 homes for a year!
Extensive study of WTE reveals many benefits of this technology. One of the largest: it reduces the volume of trash by 90%. This drastic reduction of the volume of waste extends the life of landfills by up to a factor of 10. An extensive system of pollution controls and environmental monitoring ensure that our emissions are safe for the community and the environment.
Using the Waste-to-Energy Facility
ecomaine’s Waste-to-Energy facility is primarily used for commercial or municipal waste haulers – professional trash collectors. We do accept trucks with residential waste for disposal, with fees based on a gate minimum and tonnage (with some items charged an additional special disposal fee – contact us for current pricing). Before bringing household waste to ecomaine, we recommend checking with your local transfer station or public works department for local disposal options; and then carefully reviewing our list of unacceptable materials and our safety guidelines for the tipping hall before proceeding to ecomaine.
How Waste-to-Energy Works
#1 Boiler
Carbon Monoxide
- CONCERN: Unburned hydrocarbon emissions from high CO levels can contribute to regional haze
- CONTROL: Complete combustion
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
- CONCERN: NOx that form during the combustion of nitrogen-bearing fuel like yard waste are a precursor to ground-level ozone
- CONTROL: Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) system
#2 Carbon Injection
Mercury (Hg)
- CONCERN: The presence of mercury-containing devices like fluorescent lamps, thermostats, switches, and other wiring in residential waste
- CONTROL: Powder-activated carbon is injected into flue gas, coating the Hg ions which are then collected by the electrostatic precipitator (ESP)
Dioxin/Furan (D/F)
- CONCERN: Chlorine from plastic material in waste can form hazardous organic substance compounds, especially in the case of incomplete combustion. This can be linked to health risks.
- CONTROL: Powder-activated carbon is injected into flue gas, coating the D/F particles which are then collected by the electrostatic precipitator (ESP)
#3 Scrubber
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
- CONCERN: Combustion of sulfur found in waste can contribute to the formation of acid deposition
- CONTROL: Alkaline lime slurry scrubber system neutralizes acid flue gas Hydrogen Chloride
Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)
- CONCERN: Combustion of chlorine from plastic material in waste and can contribute to acid rain
- CONTROL: Alkaline lime slurry scrubber system neutralizes acid flue gas
#4 Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
Particulate Matter (PM)
- CONCERN: Particulate matter emissions can accumulate in lungs, potentially producing respiratory issues
- CONTROL: 5-field electrostatic precipitator removes 99% of particulate emissions from the flue gas stream
[ecomaine measures Opacity as an indicator of PM]
Cadmium (Cd) & Lead (Pb)
- CONCERN: Material in waste containing Pb & Cd hazardous pollutants (i.e. batteries, paints, coatings, etc.) could yield health risks if released in air emissions
- CONTROL: Lime from the scrubber coats particles of Cd & Pb which are removed from the flue gas by the electrostatic precipitator (ESP)
