SESSION: GREEN WASTE AND STANDARDS

June 18, 2014, 4:00 pm. Track BTHE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY FOR WASTE RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES: A LOOK AT RELEVANT TECHNOLOGIES, THEIR SCALES AND FEASIBILITY FOR LARGE TRANSIT, TURNPIKE, AND HIGHWAYS SYSTEMAaron Toneys, Associate, Good Company

PROACTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMMike Yesconis, Environmental Information Technology, Co-author S. Babusukumar. Weston

LANDFILL REUSE ASTM STANDARDMarty Rowland, PhD P.E., Third Leg Consultants & Amanda Ludlow, Principal Scientist, Roux Associates

SESSION: GREEN WASTE AND STANDARDS The State of The Industry for Waste Recovery Technologies: A Look at Relevant Technologies, Their Scales and Feasibility for Large Transit, Turnpike, and Highways SystemAaron Toneys. Associate, Good Company

Policy makers and waste management professionals are beginning to recognize the nexus between landfilled solid waste and our need for domestically produced, low-carbon vehicle fuels. Pre and post-consumer food waste and difficult-to-recycle plastics are significant waste streams with potential to reduce the burden on landfills, capture the highest and best use for materials, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide new sources of revenue through integrated waste management. This presentation will introduce a 101 on waste recovery technologies and their potential to reduce costs and/or generate revenue and improve local and global environmental conditions. The technology focus will be on vehicle fuel production through AD and plastics-to-oil technologies. The presentation will conclude with an introduction to the significant operating and market variables to consider when assessing the feasibility of these technologies for a transportation agency. This discussion will be supported by with examples from various materials recovery feasibility studies that Aaron Toneys and his research team has performed for domestic and international agencies and materials management companies. All participants will leave with a one-page checklist for feasibility assessment for participating in or operating these technologies.

Aaron Toneys, Associate of Good Company, provides clients with technical research, triple bottom line assessments, tool development, and greenhouse gas inventories. Mr. Toneys focuses on alternative fuels and the materials and energy recovery industries.  His work has included technology and system feasibility studies for anaerobic digestion, plastics-to-oil pyrolysis and Fischer– Tropsch diesel. He is currently serving on workgroups to address life-cycle materials management, including Oregon DEQ’s Materials Management Workgroup to address goals and measures and EPA’s West Coast Climate & Materials Management Forum to develop a government purchasing toolkit.

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MAKING SUSTAINABILITY WORKMAKING SUSTAINABILITY WORK

Good Company65 Centennial Loop, Suite BEugene, Oregon 97401

www.goodcompany.comphone 541.341.4663fax 541.341.6412

04/18/23

State of the Industry for Waste Recovery Technologies

Anaerobic Digestion and Plastic-to-Crude Oil

Presented by

Aaron Toneys

Associate

MAKING SUSTAINABILITY WORKMAKING SUSTAINABILITY WORK

Good Company65 Centennial Loop, Suite BEugene, Oregon 97401

www.goodcompany.comphone 541.341.4663fax 541.341.6412

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Overview• Purpose: Discuss the highest and best use for

organics and difficult to recycle plastics• Technology 101

Anaerobic digestion of organic materials Plastics-to-crude oil pyrolysis

• Variables to assess feasibility• Potential for fuel production

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Our Firm, Good Company

• Sustainability research and consulting firm• Mission-driven, for-profit

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Highest and Best Use Hierarchy (revised)

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What is Anaerobic Digestion (AD)?• Process: breaks down waste organic materials without

oxygen that can produce energy, compost and environmental credits

• Benefits: produces renewable energy, compost and environmental commodities (RECs, RINs, offsets); waste feedstock; landfill diversion; GHG reduction

• Risks: feedstock sourcing, air and water emissions, permitting, logistical issues

• Transportation-related uses: vehicle fuel to displace diesel costs; source of compost for operations; treatment method for organic wastes (e.g., mowed, animal moralities)

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What is Anaerobic Digestion (AD)?

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GHG Comparison of Organics Disposal

Source: Good Company (2011). Managing Organics to Increase Margins and Carbon Benefits. Research presented at BioCycle 2011 conference in San Diego, CA.

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Methane Yield, by Feedstock Type

Source: This graphic was created based on Steppen, et al. Feedstocks for Anaerobic Digestion.

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Value of AD Products, by Energy Use

Environmental Commodities Energy

Source: Good Company (2011). Southern Oregon Biogas Feasibility Study. http://www.jswcd.org/Files/Biogas_Plant_Feasibility_Study-Full_Report.pdf

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Vehicle Fuel Cost Comparison

Source: Tetra Tech and Good Company (2011). Tillamook County Bioenergy Feasibility Study. http://www.co.tillamook.or.us/gov/solidwaste/(1)Documents/TillamookBioenergyFSFinalReport(03-12).pdf

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AD Feasibility Considerations• Feedstock quantity, composition and seasonality• Tip fees: >$50 / ton• Energy prices: Displacing owned vehicle fuel in general leads to

greatest value.• Environmental commodity prices (REC, RIN, offset): RINs have

offered greatest value in the last few years. Beware of variability due to new markets and policy change.

• Facility Costs Construction: ~$1.5 million (5k tons/year facility) - ~$40 million (125k

ton / year facility) Operations and Maintenance: $20 - $100 / short ton Grant opportunities

• Facility Location: proximity to feedstock and markets Bulk compost: <50 miles from facility

• Existing waste contracts for you and partners

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What is Plastics-to-Crude Oil Pyrolysis?• Process: Anaerobic thermal conversion of difficult to

recycle plastics into synthetic crude oil• Benefits: domestic fuel source, can be lower carbon,

recovers storable energy, reduces landfilling, relative environmental performance will improve over time

• Risks: over-sized facility, highly contaminated feedstocks, and permitting uncertainty.

• Transportation-related uses: create value from plastic roadside waste that can’t be recycled, roadside and station waste, asphalt producers

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Plastics-to-Crude Oil Pyrolysis Feasibility• State-level regulations for conversion technologies• Feedstock

Plastic feedstock that are NOT otherwise recyclable Technology Capacity: 100 tons / year - 17,000 tons / year Composition: More LDPE and HDPE and less PET and PVC for

most efficient, highest-yield conversion

• Production: ~80,000 barrels 17,000 ton / year facility• Co-locate facility with feedstock source or refinery • Crude oil price threshold: >$85 / barrel• Costs

Construction: $15 - $20 million (50 tons / day) Operations and Maintenance: ~$175 - $250 / ton of throughput

~1/3 of O&M = Balance of system

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AD and Pyrolysis Potential vs. U.S. Use

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AD and Pyrolysis Potential vs. RFS

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Thank you

Feel free to contact me:

Aaron Toneys, Associate

541.341.GOOD (4663) x218

associate@goodcompany.com

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Scope of Services

MEASURE

Product and Service Assessments

Life-Cycle Assessment

Enterprise Performance Assessment

Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Feasibility Studies and Financial Modeling

Tool Development

MANAGE

Decision Support

Climate Adaptation and Mitigation

Business Plans

Sustainability Plans and Management Systems

Education and Training

Venture Capital

MARKET

Market Research and Positioning

Sustainability Reporting and Carbon Disclosure

Business and Market Development

Public Engagement and Education

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Pyrolysis compared to Incineration

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Carbon-Intensity of Pyrolysis