Based on data from our waste haulers , the rate of contamination may be as high as 30 – 40 % at Dulles International and upwards of 10 % at Reagan National . A near-term goal will be to evaluate the accuracy of these rates and the primary causes behind them . As part of the Sustainable Master Plan currently being developed for Dulles International , a more in-depth analysis of waste streams will be conducted . Once identified as contaminated , an additional $ 500 charge is assessed on the load which is subsequently treated as MSW and disposed of accordingly .
What Happens to our Municipal Solid Waste ?
When it comes to sustainability plans at many large airports across the country , a primary objective is diverting the amount of MSW that is sent to landfills . In the case of the Authority , we already divert more than 80 % of our MSW away from landfills which is an impressive number . The reason our landfill diversion rate is so high is that what we do not recycle is sent to a WtE facility in Fairfax , Virginia , where it is burned at high temperature in a highly contained fashion to produce electricity . The EPA considers WtE ( or energy recovery ) a preferable alternative to landfilling MSW as the resulting GHG emissions are significantly lower . 36
As we discuss in the section on Sustainable Energy Use , our annual waste stream produces enough electricity , via WtE , to power 742 homes for an entire year . The WtE process reduces the weight of MSW by approximately 80 % with the remaining 20 % ( primarily in the form of ash ) being disposed of at landfills ( and often used as daily landfill caps ). In the process , certain unburned metals are also salvaged from the ash and recycled . In the case of Reagan National , this residual 20 % is sent to the King George County Landfill in Maryland . This landfill operates a methane gas collection system and some of the methane emitted by decomposition of the buried organic material is captured , cleaned , and used to power turbines to create additional electricity .
While landfill diversion avoids methane production and collection requirements , we certainly understand that there are emissions associated with burning MSW . WtE facilities are highly regulated with stringent emission restrictions , and they can reduce the need to construct new landfills in highly populated areas . Incinerating MSW can also reduce carbon emissions by offsetting electricity from other sources , depending on the fuel source . 37 We also acknowledge that even though we are supporting the generation of electricity and minimizing the percentage of MSW that ends up in the landfill , we will continue to prioritize reducing the amount of material we generate both to save money and to minimize our impact on the environment .
Aircraft Deicing Fluid Management
Waste Generated ( 100 %)
Non recyclable waste sent to Waste to Energy Facility
Uncontaminated Single Stream Recyclables removed from waste stream
Residual waste ash after incineration sent to landfill ( 20 % of initial waste generated )
Figure 6 : Waste to Energy
In icy or snowy conditions , planes are sprayed with a deicing fluid containing glycol to prevent ice from forming on the plane ’ s wings . To prevent this glycol from entering the surrounding watersheds with
36 EPA , “ Sustainable Materials Management : Non-Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Hierarchy .”
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