Waste-to-Energy Proposals Studied

Aug 25 - Daily News; Los Angeles, Calif.

In an effort to end Los Angeles' dependence on landfills, sanitation officials are reviewing 12 proposals to build the nation's first major trash-to-energy plant in the city.

The plant would take residual garbage -- what's left after bottles, cans and other recyclables are picked out -- and convert it into gas or electricity.

City officials are expected to choose a project next year with the goal of opening a plant in 2010.

"A lot of these are extremely reputable companies with proven technologies, things that are being done all around the world today. L.A. will by no means be a guinea pig," said Mitch Englander, chief of staff for Councilman Greig Smith.

Smith has proposed building as many as six trash-to-energy plants throughout the city to alleviate the need for Sunshine Canyon Landfill -- the Granada Hills dump that currently takes the city's residential trash.

The proposal for the first plant calls for the city to partner with a company, possibly providing land and pledging to buy electricity from the operation.

The company would build and operate the commercial-size plant, which could take up to 1,000 tons of trash per day.

The city is also looking to partner with a company developing an experimental trash-to-energy process.

The plants use heat, chemicals or biological processes to break down trash in a controlled facility to limit noise, air pollution and odors.

However, some environmental groups are opposed to trash-to- energy plants, saying they discourage recycling and would create too much air pollution.

"Call them what they are: incinerators," said Robina Suwol, who runs California Safe Schools. "We have the worst air quality in the entire continent."

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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To learn more

For more information on trash alternative technologies, visit www.lacity-alternativetechnology.org .