FACT SHEET

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR NEW STATIONARY SOURCES AND EMISSION GUIDELINES FOR EXISTING SOURCES: LARGE MUNICIPAL WASTE COMBUSTORS

FACT SHEET

ACTION
BACKGROUND
MORE INFORMATION

ACTION

On April 28, 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted revised emission limits in its new source performance standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines for large municipal waste combustors (MWC) units.
Large MWC units are those that burn more than 250 tons per day of municipal solid waste (about 25 garbage trucks).
These revised limits reflect the emission control levels achieved by large MWCs as a result of maximum achievable control technology (MACT) retrofits completed in 2000. After installing and operating these required controls, large MWCs achieved emissions reductions better than expected. These final amendments will ensure that these air emissions levels are maintained.
EPA also is finalizing several changes to the rules to simplify implementation.

BACKGROUND

Section 129 of the Clean Air Act required EPA to develop and adopt NSPS and emissions guidelines for MWCs based on application of maximum achievable control technology (MACT). These regulations were adopted by EPA in 1995 and were fully implemented by 2000.
The regulations were highly effective in reducing emissions from MWCs. When compared to the 1990 baseline, the MACT regulations reduced organic emissions (dioxin/furans) by more than 99 percent, metal emissions (cadmium, lead, and mercury) by more than 93 percent, and acid gas emissions (HCl and SO2) by more than 91 percent.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to conduct a 5-yr review of the MWC rules and, if appropriate, revise them. These amendments complete that required review.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To download a copy of the final rule from EPAs web site, go to Recent Actions at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg.
For further information about the final rule, contact Mr. Walt Stevenson at EPAs Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards at 919-541-5264.
For information regarding large MWC, visit EPAs web site at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/129/mwc/rimwc.html. For other combustion-related regulations, visit EPAs Combustion Related Rules page at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/combust/list.html.