On Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, the EPA announced its intends to force sewage sludge incinerators to install mercury controls, in addition to particulate controls. According to an agency press release, the proposed standards would apply to both multiple hearth and fluidized bed incinerators. Units incinerating sewage sludge at other types of facilities such as commercial, industrial and institutional incinerators will be covered under different air pollution standards.

According to the press release, incineration of municipal sludge is the sixth-largest source of mercury air emissions. However, the agency's July 2006 Roadmap for Mercury showed municipal waste combustion (at 56.7 TPY) as the largest source of mercury air emissions (see page 26 of the pdf). The agency under current Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has been taking an industry-by-industry approach to new air pollution controls, usually starting with what the agency views as the largest emitters. MSW burners are the second industry to get limits; Cement kilns were targeted for mercury controls in August.

The agency will take comment on the proposed rule for 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register (expected this Tuesday), giving a likely due date of Nov. 4 or 5, 2010. The rule will be finalized in 2011 and become effective in 2015.

SOURCE: EPA Press release