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

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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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