20080421 The 3-minute interview: Robin Davidov by Matthew Santoni, The Examiner

The 3-minute interview: Robin Davidov

Matthew Santoni, The Examiner 2008-04-21

BALTIMORE - The Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority manages three waste-to-energy facilities that burn trash to generate steam and electricity in Harford and Montgomery counties, and Baltimore City. Last week, Carroll County voted to join Frederick County in building a fourth. Harford County plans to expand its facility, said Authority Director Robin Davidov.

Why have Carroll and Harford had such different reactions to plans for new waste-to-energy plants?

The difference, I think, is that Harford County has had 20 years’ experience with a waste-to-energy facility. It’s been very reliable, it’s been a good neighbor and it’s generated electricity for the nearby Army base. Those counties which have had experience with waste-to-energy have had a good experience, and those without experience have a lot of questions.

How does waste-to-energy compare to increased recycling, which is being discussed as an alternative in Carroll?

Our first steps are to reduce, reuse and recycle. But not everything can be recycled. To those who say, “Let’s recycle more instead of burning it for energy,” it’s not an either/or. Harford County has the highest recycling rate in the state [57 percent in 2006], so they know the difference between waste that can be recycled and that which can’t. Most of Carroll’s trash isn’t being recycled right now. It’s going 190 miles to a landfill in Virginia.

How do you respond to citizens’ worries about the facilities producing greenhouse gases and pollutants such as dioxins?

Waste-to-energy plants actually emit less greenhouse gas than trucking and landfilling garbage because landfills produce methane, which is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Dioxins are really pervasive. We’re pretty sure — not 100 percent — but pretty sure they’re destroyed at really high temperatures.

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Links to related materials on Carroll County Maryland’s future solid waste management decisions… Related to: 20080331 Future of Solid Waste Public Hearing Dates Released

20080317 Recent columns on the future of Solid Waste Management in Carroll and Frederick Counties

20080317 More information on Waste to Energy and the future of solid waste management in Frederick and Carroll Counties

20080309 The Sunday Carroll Eagle: “History will know us by our trash”

April 16, 2008

How to Make Trash Go Away

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Tomorrow the Carroll County Board of Commissioners will deliberate in open session and – hopefully – make a decision regarding the offer from Frederick County to join forces to make 1,100 tons of trash a day go away.

In The Tentacle:

March 6, 2008

Making Trash Go Away – Part 2

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The February 26th joint meeting between Frederick and Carroll County over how to make trash go away came after two years of discussions and deliberations resulting from the Frederick County commissioners’ adoption of Resolution 06-05, on February 16, 2006.

March 5, 2008

Making Trash Go Away – Part One

Kevin E. Dayhoff

On February 26, the Frederick and Carroll County commissioners met to discuss how to make a combined 1,100 tons of trash-a-day go away.

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Related: Environmentalism Solid Waste Management or

Environmentalism Solid Waste Management Recycling or

Environmentalism Solid Waste Management Waste to Energy

And:

19880900 To Burn or Not to Burn an interview with Neil Seldman

19960900 The Five Most Dangerous Myths About Recycling

“Pay as you throw” By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer Sunday, August 12, 2007

20070912 Carroll County EAC votes to promote recycling by Carrie Ann Knauer

20071010 Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council recommends “Pay as You Throw” program to reduce waste, by Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer

20071112 Frederick County seeks Carroll participation in trash incinerator

Carroll County Times editorial from November 14, 2007: “Talk some trash with the county”

20080318 Frederick News Post Tourism Council opposes incinerator by Karen Gardner

20080331 Future of Solid Waste Public Hearing Dates Released

Links to meetings and videos:

http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/pubworks/sw-future/default.asp

Board of County Commissioners Meetings

Future of Solid Waste Dates Released

Commissioner Discussion on WTE Shared Facility March 28, 2008

Future of Solid Waste Options March 10, 2008, public discussion

Future of Solid Waste Options March 5, 2008, public discussion

Joint meeting with Frederick County Board of County Commissioners
February 26, 2008

Presentation on home composting February 28, 2008

Economics of a shared Waste-to-Energy facility February 21, 2008

Presentation of recycling policy February 14, 2008

Discussion of integrated materials management strategy November 19, 2007

Report on recycling and update on solid waste August 14, 2007

Environmental Advisory Council Meetings

County's electronic recycling March 11, 2008

Food waste composting January 8, 2008

Council priorities review December 11, 2007

Presentation on composting November 13, 2007

Resource assessment, continuation of EAC discussion on waste management October 9, 2007

EAC discussion on waste management September 11, 2007

Pay per throw, Recycling August 14, 2007

Municipal waste options July 10, 2007

Pay per throw program, Solid waste practices in Montgomery County, and update on commercial recycling June 12, 2007

Solid and hazardous waste management, Sierra Club's waste management views, and Lancaster waste-to-energy trip May 8, 2007

Links to documents:

Waste To Energy Option for Carroll County

U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration

Waste to Energy: Investment/Expense/Income

Environmental Advisory Council Recommendations on Addressing
Solid Waste in Carroll County

Environmental Advisory Council Recommendations (DPW's presentation)

Managing Recycling and Reuse

Multiple Pathway Health Risk Assessment

Municipal Waste Combustion Ash, Soil, and Leachate Characterization

Carroll County Waste Reduction, Recycling and Buy Recycled Policy

Resource Assessment (Richard Anthony report)

Solid Waste Decision Timeline

Integrated Materials (Waste) Management System

Carroll County, Maryland Solid Waste Management Options (R.W. Beck report)

Cumulative Health Risk Study for Dickerson Area Facilities