Air and water pollution

Chemicals in Garbage

• Mixed municipal waste contains chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment [1, 2, 3, 9], including carcinogens (PFOS, PFOA and other PFAs)[12] and endocrine disruptors (BPA, PFAs, and  Phthalates) [3].

Toxic Chemicals

• During the autoclave process, steam will be contaminated by these toxic chemicals as it comes in contact with the garbage.  Although autoclave can kill bacteria and some molds, it is not able to neutralize persistent pollutants [12].

​Polluting the Hudson

• Fort Edward Municipal Wastewater Treatment outflows into the Hudson River. This facility is not capable of removing or detoxifying persistent pollutants and they would be dumped into the Hudson River [1, 2].  ​

Water Consumption

• The Hughes Energy facility requires 500 gallons of freshwater per hour, with peak flows reaching 1000 gallons per hour [5]. 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• The facility would consume 30 million BTUs of Natural Gas per hour releasing over 350,000 lbs of CO2 per day (about 3,000 lbs/day).
  • (30 million BTU’s per hour x 116.32 lbs. CO2 per hour = 3489.6 lbs of CO2 )(3489.6 lbs of CO2 x 24 hours = 383,520 lbs of CO2 per day

Back to Key Points