Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida , USA.
Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2024 Oct;74(10):699-713. doi: 10.1080/10962247.2024.2383651. Epub 2024 Sep 4.
The incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) produces byproducts known as MSW incineration (MSWI) ash. The reuse of MSWI ash as a construction material prevails in several areas of the world, namely Europe and Asia, however, reuse in the United States (US) lags due to regulatory requirements for disposal practices. Developing a recycling program for MSWI ash provides an alternative end-of-life disposal scenario for material currently landfilled and supplements the reliability of mining of natural aggregates. This study provides a programmatic review of the past decade of challenges and opportunities a local government in the US has experienced to implement a recycling program for their MSWI bottom ash (BA) as a construction aggregate in road materials, such as hot mix asphalt, concrete pavement, and road base. The regulatory and practical challenges in the U.S. are presented, including meeting mechanical and environmental performance requirements (e.g., strength and leaching-to-groundwater). The novel approach to overcoming these challenges include blending MSWIBA from two facilities with common aggregates, creating suitable construction materials. Interfacing with local and state agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection and Transportation resulted in additional testing to establish the MSWIBA as a beneficial use material and obtain essential approvals for advancing reuse opportunities. This paper synthesizes available data regarding the challenges, opportunities, and implementation of this recycling program by reviewing the experiences of an MSWI facility in the US to provide fundamental guidance to those considering similar applications. The reuse of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (MSWIBA) lags in the United States (US) due to regulatory limitations and lack of precedence. This manuscript details the steps of a local government in the US to establishing a novel recycling program for their MSWIBA, including performance evaluation, regulatory interfacing, and outreach. This critical review provides a comprehensive document containing appropriate considerations required to implement similar MSWIBA recycling programs in the US and offers lawmakers, policymakers, and MSWI operators knowledge regarding opportunities and challenges associated with pursuing this avenue.
城市固体废物（MSW）焚烧产生的副产品称为 MSW 焚烧（MSWI）灰。MSWI 灰作为建筑材料的再利用在世界上的几个地区，特别是欧洲和亚洲，已经得到广泛应用，然而，由于美国对处置实践的监管要求，这种再利用在美国滞后。为 MSWI 灰制定回收计划，为目前填埋的材料提供了一种替代的生命周期处置方案，并补充了天然骨料开采的可靠性。本研究对美国地方政府在过去十年中为实施回收计划所面临的挑战和机遇进行了方案审查，该计划将 MSWI 底灰（BA）作为建筑骨料，用于道路材料，如热拌沥青、混凝土路面和道路基层。介绍了美国在实施过程中面临的监管和实际挑战，包括满足机械和环境性能要求（如强度和浸出到地下水）。克服这些挑战的新颖方法包括将两个设施的 MSWIBA 与普通骨料混合，创造合适的建筑材料。与地方和州机构（如环境保护署和运输部）进行合作，进行了额外的测试，以确定 MSWIBA 作为有益用途材料的地位，并获得推进再利用机会的必要批准。本文通过审查美国一家 MSWI 设施的经验，综合了有关该回收计划的挑战、机遇和实施情况的现有数据，为那些考虑类似应用的人提供了基本的指导。由于监管限制和缺乏先例，美国的城市固体废物焚烧厂底灰（MSWIBA）再利用率滞后。本文详细介绍了美国地方政府为建立新型 MSWIBA 回收计划所采取的步骤，包括性能评估、监管对接和外联。这篇重要的评论提供了一份全面的文件，其中包含在美国实施类似 MSWIBA 回收计划所需的适当考虑因素，并为立法者、政策制定者和 MSWI 运营商提供了与追求这一途径相关的机会和挑战的知识。
