Is a Waste-to-Energy facility a viable option?
There are a number of waste-to-energy facilities in operation within New York State. While the technology regarding the pollution control systems associated with these facilities has improved over the years, these types of facilities are very expensive to construct and operate. In general, tipping fees associated with waste-to-energy facilities are 3 to 4 times higher than permitted landfill facilities. In addition, changes in air pollution control regulations, and subsequent required modifications to control systems utilized at waste-to-energy facilities, can significantly affect the long-term economic viability of these facilities. Given the construction and operational costs of these facilities, waste-to-energy plants must operate at near capacity so that maximum revenue can be generated. This greatly differs from a landfill facility where landfill space not utilized in a given day is still available for use in the future. Finally, even with a waste to energy plant, you would still
