NREL Concludes PVC Is Not Related To Dioxin Emissions

WORLD WASTES STAFF

Golden, Colo. - A report published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, Colo., concludes that removing pol-yvinylchloride (PVC) plastics from MSW will not reduce emissions of dioxin when MSW is combusted to produce energy.

As part of the study, NREL re-viewed the test data in published literature. The results showed that the presence of PVC in the MSW does not have any bearing on the available control measures, which can limit dioxin emissions from combustion of MSW below regulatory levels. According to NREL, the primary fo-cus of the report is emissions and therefore does not include any hazard or risk analyses.

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy from Municipal Waste Program, NREL subcontracted with the Solid Waste Association of North America to conduct the study used in the report. For a copy of Polyvinylchloride Plastics in Mu-nicipal Solid Waste Combustion, contact: Sally Evans, NREL, 1617 Cole Blvd. Golden, Colo. 80401.

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