UNION COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY SOLID WASTE COMPOSITION STUDY
LOCATION: UNION COUNTY & BERGEN COUNTY, NJ
CLIENT: UNION COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY & BERGEN COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY
MARKET SECTOR: PUBLIC - ENERGY & UTILITY
THE OPPORTUNITY
In response to an NJDEP Permit Condition for a 1,500 tons per day Resource Recovery Facility, Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor completed a joint solid waste composition for Union County and Bergen County, New Jersey.
THE CHALLENGE
Union County and Bergen County are two of the 22 solid waste management districts in New Jersey. These counties have a total population of more than 1.4 million and include major office and industrial complexes.
THE PS&S SOLUTION
During a year-long study, PS&S acquired simultaneous representative samples of the solid wastes being disposed through transfer stations that manage solid wastes for Union and Bergen Counties. Samples were sorted and classified by waste type and for 27 categories in waste materials. Samples were analyzed in a contracted laboratory for proximate and ultimate analyses, higher heating values and heavy metal analyses. All sampling and testing was approved through a protocol submitted to NJDEP.
The results of sampling and testing were used to determine waste composition by type; on a seasonal basis and by materials. Laboratory testing was used to determine the impacts of receiving and processing solid wastes at the Resource Recovery Facility. Waste delivery data was determined for receipts at the Resource Recovery Facility. Waste projections for each county were prepared. Lastly, a detailed analysis of recycling fractions of the solid wastes and potential recycling options was completed.