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Quiz on the Hilo waste-to-energy (WTE) proposal
Test you knowledge to see how well-informed you are.
TRUE or FALSE
1.WTE would emit greenhouse gases.
2.WTE would prevent hauling waste from Hilo to Kona.
3.WTE would emit toxic pollutants.
4.WTE would lower electricity bills on the island.
5.WTE would recover metal to be recycled.
6.WTE would reduce 85,000 tons of feedstock to 8,500 tons of ash.
7.WTE would compete with recycling for plastic and paper.
8.WTE would cost less to operate than any other alternative.
9.WTE would require the largest debt in County history.
10.WTE would eliminate the need to have a landfill on the island.
Each question is worth 10% of total grade.
Passing grade? You decide.
How much do you need to know about WTE to support it or oppose it?
(key to the Quiz and explanation will follow -- no cheating!)
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
Now that's a good one [  ]
I wrote my answers down, but I will wait to post them.... So that everyone can do the quiz.
On a side note. I just drove by the Reynolds Recycling drop off on Kilauea St. down Hilo Town. That place is using an old gas station as it's place to collect the recycling.
It really looked much more appealing then anything I have seen on Oahu. It almost looked like it was "Drive-Thru"
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Reynolds looks better than Atlas Recycling. Everytime I've been to Atlas, it's always a cluster.
So are we supposed to post our answers to the quiz or what? Or is this just more of an informative type quiz? Rhetorical questions just to make us think?
"It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you"
"It's not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you"
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Threads: 73
Joined: Aug 2006
LopiT,
Post questions, hold 'em, wait and see, or just think about it...
whichever you feel best about doing.
Answers and explanation tomorrow.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
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Joined: Dec 2007
all false except 1, 3, 8 & 9. but I really dont know much about it.
Posts: 1,779
Threads: 73
Joined: Aug 2006
quote:
Originally posted by james weatherford
Quiz on the Hilo waste-to-energy (WTE) proposal
Test you knowledge to see how well-informed you are.
TRUE or FALSE
1.WTE would emit greenhouse gases. TRUE (CO2 and N2O)
2.WTE would prevent hauling waste from Hilo to Kona. FALSE (ash and 'non-processibles would be landfilled)
3.WTE would emit toxic pollutants. TRUE (dioxin, mercury, lead, cadmium)
4.WTE would lower electricity bills on the island. FALSE (only about 2% of island's electricity can be produced at the WTE and would be purchased by HELCO at 'avoided cost', i.e., the price of oil.
5.WTE would recover metal to be recycled. TRUE (metal dissolves into puddles and is recycled)
6.WTE would reduce 85,000 tons of feedstock to 8,500 tons of ash. FALSE (the tonnage of ash would be about 30% or 25,000 tons, not the 10% of volume that is in the p.r. literature)
7.WTE would compete with recycling for plastic and paper. TRUE (these materials are high BTU for the incinerator and have good recycling markets. To meet the necessary quota and avoid penalty payments, the County would be forced to abandon support of paper and plastic recycling).
8.WTE would cost less to operate than any other alternative. FALSE (Composting the 'organic fraction' -- up to 50% of total, recycling and re-using about 30% will accomplish more and with landfilling the last 20% will cost less).
9.WTE would require the largest debt in County history. TRUE (when the price tag being discussed less than one year ago was $40 million, that would have been the highest debt. Now the price tag is $125 million+)
10.WTE would eliminate the need to have a landfill on the island. FALSE (ash and materials that can not be burned will need to be landfilled).
Each question is worth 10% of total grade.
Passing grade? You decide.
How much do you need to know about WTE to support it or oppose it?
(key to the Quiz and explanation will follow -- no cheating!)
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
Posts: 1,581
Threads: 26
Joined: Jun 2007
I agree with the answers, but #5 is a big question mark.[?]
If aluminum is let’s say $1.00 a pound (pre incineration clean sort); post-incinerated slag (mixed metals with contaminants) would only yield about 10 cents a pound. In areas with waste incinerators, the commingled metal/contaminates only pays if a foundry is literally next door. Otherwise the cost of recovering may be more than what the material will sell for. I don’t know if the BI has a foundry capable of handling the metal waste, as the proposed incinerator would produce. If not, the transportation cost to such a foundry may be cost prohibitive rendering the waste unmarketable. If they have to pay to remove the waste it may end up being cheaper to dump it in a landfill and say “oh well, we tried”. I don’t think they are being up-front with the people about this.
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Bob,
Thanks.
Regarding metal recycling and WTE:
As for specific metals, e.g., aluminum, I cannot say what does or does not happen. However, all the data, including EPA's, indicate metal recycling is a bit higher in communities with WTE than without, just like paper and plastic recycling is way lower in communities with WTE than without. This metal recycled out of WTE comes from what does not get removed/sorted before it goes in, with most metal separation happening before burning. It's just a quirk about WTE.
A couple of thoughts: if metal is not getting sorted, then neither are all manner of chemicals that are not supposed to go in either -- pesticides, heavy metals, and others. These end up in the local food chain.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
Thank you for this test Dr. W.
I'm sure Wheelabrator folks will disagree with your analysis... and use their spin machine to toss us the Wheelabrator as they see fit [ ]
Thought I would point out this Spokane Q&A I read. Of course then when you read who submitted the questions... you gotta laugh [  ]
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Golly, just in time for the EA that was given to shipping "baled" trash to other ports! Of course, we'll have to pay to Hon. then baleing, then off to Oregon!
Will cut in both Matson and YB big time! And HELCO has even less to worry about! They just made another 15cent fuel adjustment!
The only good Eco news is HELCO has to increase it's reverse meter time for those so hooked up!
Gordon J Tilley
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