Opportunities and challenges with implementing a recycling program for municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash as a construction aggregate: A programmatic review

ABSTRACT

The incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) produces byproducts known as MSW incineration (MSWI) ash. The reuse of MSWI ash as a construction material prevails in several areas of the world, namely Europe and Asia, however, reuse in the United States (US) lags due to regulatory requirements for disposal practices. Developing a recycling program for MSWI ash provides an alternative end-of-life disposal scenario for material currently landfilled and supplements the reliability on mining of natural aggregates. This study provides a programmatic review of the past decade of challenges and opportunities a local government in the US has experienced to implement a recycling program for their MSWI bottom ash (BA) as a construction aggregate in road materials such as hot mix asphalt, concrete pavement, and road base. The regulatory and practical challenges in the US are presented, including meeting mechanical and environmental performance requirements (e.g. strength and leaching-to-groundwater). The novel approach to overcoming these challenges includes blending the MSWIBA from two facilities with common aggregates, creating suitable construction materials. Interfacing with local and state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection and Transportation resulted in additional testing to establish the MSWIBA as a beneficial use material and obtain essential approvals for advancing reuse opportunities. This paper synthesizes available data regarding the challenges, opportunities, and implementation of this recycling program by reviewing the experiences of an MSWI facility in the US to provide fundamental guidance to those considering similar applications.

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ACRONYMS

ABU	=	Ash Beneficial Use
Al	=	Aluminum
As	=	Arsenic
ASR	=	Alkali-Silica Reactivity
BA	=	Bottom Ash
BUD	=	Beneficial Use Demonstrations
CA	=	Combined Ash
CBR	=	California Bearing Ratio
CC	=	Cemented Coquina
Cd	=	Cadmium
CFA	=	Coal Fly Ash
EPA	=	Environmental Protection Agency
FA	=	Fly Ash
FDEP	=	Florida Department of Environmental Protection
FDOT	=	Florida Department of Transportation
HMA	=	Hot Mix Asphalt
IWEM	=	Industrial Waste Management Evaluation Model
LBR	=	Limerock Bearing Ratio
LR	=	Limerock
MCPT	=	Miniature Concrete Prism Test
MSWI	=	Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator
MSWIBA	=	Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Bottom Ash
MSW	=	Municipal Solid Waste
NS	=	Nonstructural
Pb	=	Lead
PCC	=	Portland cement concrete
PSD	=	Particle Size Distribution
RAP	=	Recycled Asphalt Pavement
RCA	=	Recycled Concrete Asphalt
RDF	=	Refuse Derived Fuel
REF	=	Renewable Energy Facility
RSL	=	Regional Screening Level
Sb	=	Antimony
SPLP	=	Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure
SWA	=	Solid Waste Authority
US	=	United States

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, Florida.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, T.G.T, upon reasonable request.

Disclosure of Interest

Ramana Kari and Nate Meyer are employees for the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County.