[USCC] Energy from wet sludge - look to St Paul Minn

[The Rubins]

Maureen:

EXCELLENT RESPONSE!!!  I appreciate that you addressed the CO2 issue that I 
raised in my earlier posting which I am not including due to the List 
Serve's groundrule of transmitting a limited amount of "old text".  One 
point that you made that I find odd.  "As a Sludge Watch subscriber you will 
be aware that sludge emits, according to studies done by a California South 
Coast Air Quality Monitoring District, as much as 34.5 pounds of methane per 
ton during the composting process. Methane is one of the worst greenhouse 
gases...21 times worse than carbon dioxide.  With biomass energy from sludge 
this methane is utilized and removed as energy."  I may be missing something 
but I thought that aerobic composting processes do not produce methane.  I 
would hope that some of the members of the list serve comment on this issue 
as well as render their opinions on whether composting or thermal 
destructive processes (incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, etc) overall 
produce more or less greenhouse gas emissions (total of CO2 and methane). 
Obviously in rendering your opinions, credit composting with a net reduction 
in CO2 when the compost is used to grow vegitation.

Cheers

Alan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Maureen Reilly" <maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca>
To: "US Composting Council Compost Discussion List" <compost at composter.com>
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 7:31 AM
Subject: Re: [USCC] Energy from wet sludge - look to St Paul Minn


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>
> Dear Mr Rubin,
> Thank you for your compliments. I didn't think this listserve was the 
> place
> for private dialogue and I'm surprised to see this post, since I already
> answered you privately.  As a Sludge Watch subscriber you will be aware
> that sludge emits, according to studies done by a California South Coast 
> Air
> Quality Monitoring
> District, as much as 34.5 pounds of methane per ton during the composting
> process. Methane is one of the worst greenhouse gases...21 times worse 
> than
> carbon dioxide.  With biomass energy from sludge this methane is utilized
> and removed as energy.
>
> Here is more information about the carbon dioxide in biomass energy. These
> plants are considered
> carbon dioxide neutral.  See "Why Biomass?" from the Netherlands Energy
> Center
> for more information. http://www.ecn.nl/en/bkm/additional/why-biomass/
>
>
> Carbon dioxide from the biomass energy plant can be further removed, if
> desired.
> It can be utilized in a variety of ways, for example the production of 
> 'dry
> ice' or
> it can provide for the utilization of the carbon dioxide in nearby
> greenhouses.
>
> I have always said that ash from thermal treatment of sludge can, and
> should, go to an appropriate land fill in a form that doesn't blow around,
> leach into
> groundwater or travel offsite.
>
> Al, I wasn't trying to do an environmental assessment of the various
> technologies
> for managing sludge.  I wasn't even recommending a venue for the 
> management
> of
> sludge.  All I was doing was explaining that sludge can be effectively
> used as a fuel to generate power.  I was refuting inaccurate arguments by
> Mr Chaney who alleged that this was impossible.
>
> The potential to use sludge for a biomass energy source is there.  Whether 
> a
> community wants
> to use that potential, is a separate question.  Because North American 
> (and
> European) sewer wastes contain
> significant industrial toxins and pathogens they are difficult to manage.
> Thermal processes address pathogens,
> but certainly require very competent air emmissions pollution control
> technologies.   From a pollution prevention
> point of view it would be better if we didn't mix toilet waste and
> industrial waste in the first place.
>
> Al, I see from your next post, that you are consulted by Jim Nelly (this
> listserve administrator)
> as to whether he should allow various postings to go through.  This helps 
> to
> explain why
> my post on Energy from Sludge at St Pauls was delayed for about 5 days.
>
> Al, I am asking you to stop misrepresenting my positions on this 
> listserve.
> I suggest you post your opinions.  Leave it to me to post mine.