**FACT SHEET**

**Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission
Guidelines for Existing Sources: Other Solid Waste Incineration Units**

**[ACTION]{.underline}**

-   On November 30, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    promulgated rules to reduce emissions of air pollutants from other
    solid waste incineration (OSWI) units. The final OSWI rules regulate
    two subcategories of incinerators: (1) very small municipal waste
    combustion units and (2) institutional waste incineration units. The
    final rule is available at
    <http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3pfpr.html>.

-   Very small municipal waste combustion (VSMWC) units are incinerators
    that burn less than 35 tons per day of municipal solid waste.
    Municipal solid waste is nonhazardous solid waste or refuse
    collected from residential, commercial, institutional, and
    industrial sources. Larger municipal waste combustion units are
    already regulated under two other rules promulgated earlier.

-   Institutional waste incineration (IWI) units are incinerators
    located at institutions (e.g., public or private school; college or
    university; church or civic organization; fire or police department;
    town, city, county, State or Federal government; etc.) that burn
    solid waste generated on site.

-   The final rules will establish emission limits for the following
    nine air pollutants from these incinerators: particulate matter
    (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO~2~), hydrogen chloride (HCl), nitrogen
    oxides (NO~x~), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd),
    mercury (Hg), and dioxins/furans. The final rules also will
    establish opacity limits.

-   The emission limits in the final rules are based on levels that can
    be achieved by installing wet scrubbers. Other emission control
    technologies can also be used, as long as they meet the required
    emission limits.

-   The final rules consist of new source performance standards (NSPS)
    for new (built after December 9, 2004) OSWI units and emission
    guidelines for existing OSWI units. Although the NSPS apply directly
    to new OSWI units, states must submit plans to implement the
    emission guidelines for existing OSWI units in their states, and EPA
    then approves the plans. If a state does not develop an approvable
    implementation plan, EPA will promulgate a federal plan that will
    apply to existing OSWI units located in that state.

-   A new OSWI unit must demonstrate compliance with the emission limits
    in the NSPS upon start-up. Generally, existing OSWI units will have
    5 years from the date EPA adopts the final emission guidelines to
    demonstrate compliance with the emission limits in those emission
    guidelines.

-   EPA estimates that 248 existing OSWI units (12 VSMWC units and 236
    IWI units) will be subject to the final emission guidelines and that
    no OSWI units will be subject to the final NSPS because it is
    unlikely that any new OSWI units will be built.

**[HEALTH/ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS]{.underline}**

-   The final standards and guidelines will provide important
    improvements in protecting human health and the environment by
    reducing air pollutant emissions. EPA estimates total pollutant
    reductions of about 1,900 tons per year in the fifth year following
    promulgation if all facilities with existing OSWI units elect to
    install air pollution controls to comply with the emission
    guidelines. The emissions reductions by pollutant are listed below:

[Pollutant]{.underline} [Emissions Reductions]{.underline}

> Cd 0.3 tons
>
> CO 13 tons
>
> Dioxins/furans 3.0x10^-4^ tons
>
> HCl 837 tons
>
> Pb 5 tons
>
> Hg 0.5 tons
>
> NO~x~ 245 tons
>
> PM 227 tons
>
> SO~2~ 598 tons

-   Available information indicates that the OSWI unit population has
    been steadily declining over the past several years, and this trend
    would likely continue even in the absence of the OSWI standards and
    guidelines. This decline has been due to the availability of more
    economical waste disposal methods, such as landfilling. If all
    facilities with existing OSWI units decide to shut down their
    incinerators in favor of landfilling their waste, total air
    pollutant emissions will be reduced by about 2,200 tons per year.

-   Exposure to emissions of some of these pollutants, such as
    dioxins/furans, HCl and metals, may produce a wide variety of human
    health effects including irritation of the lungs, skin and mucous
    membranes; problems with the central nervous system; kidney damage;
    and cancer.

-   Exposure to PM may produce aggravated asthma, acute respiratory
    symptoms, chronic bronchitis, increased frequency of childhood
    illness, and other significant health problems. Furthermore, PM also
    impairs visibility by scattering and absorbing light. In many parts
    of the U.S., the visual range has been reduced by 70 percent from
    natural conditions.

-   Acid gases, such as NO~x~ and SO~2~, may produce both temporary and
    long-term respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath, changes
    in airway responsiveness, and increased susceptibility to
    respiratory infection. Additionally, NO~x~ reacts in air to form
    ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution which are both
    associated with adverse health effects. Both NO~x~ and SO~2~ are
    major precursors to acid rain which, when deposited, is associated
    with acidification of soil and surface water. Like NO~x~, SO~2~ also
    contributes to the formation of fine particle pollution.

-   The health threat of CO is the reduction of oxygen delivery to the
    body=s organs and tissues and is most serious for those who suffer
    from cardiovascular disease. At high levels of exposure, CO can be
    poisonous.

**[COST]{.underline}**

-   EPA estimates that no new OSWI units will be constructed, so there
    is no cost expected due to implementation of the NSPS.

-   EPA estimates that the total nationwide annual costs to comply with
    the emission guidelines will be approximately \$42 million per year,
    if all OSWI units install wet scrubber controls to meet the final
    emission limits.

-   Alternatively, owners or operators of OSWI units can choose to close
    their OSWI unit and use other means of waste disposal, such as
    landfilling. By shutting down their incinerator and sending the
    waste to a landfill, most facilities with OSWI units will incur no
    additional cost and some may even experience a small cost savings.

**[BACKGROUND]{.underline}**

-   Section 129 of the Clean Air Act requires EPA to establish
    performance standards for Aother solid waste incineration units@
    that reflect the application of strict emissions controls known as
    maximum achievable control technology.

-   The Act further requires that these standards address emissions of
    nine pollutants: particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen
    chloride, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, lead, cadmium, mercury,
    and dioxins/furans.

-   EPA identified very small municipal waste combustion units and
    institutional waste incineration units as the two subcategories of
    the OSWI source category.

**[FOR MORE INFORMATION]{.underline}**

-   For further information about the final rules, contact Ms. Mary
    Johnson at EPA=s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards at
    919-541-5025.

-   For information regarding other solid waste incinerators, visit
    EPA=s web site at:
    *<http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/129/oswi/oswipg.html>.* For other
    combustion-related regulations, visit EPA=s Combustion Related Rules
    page at: *<http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/combust/list.html>.*