In this article:
- Air Curtain Incinerators for hurricane clean-up
- Air Curtain Incinerators for clean-up after tornadoes
- Air Curtain Incinerators after ice storms
- How Air Curtain Incinerators save money and aid in recovery
Natural disasters are becoming increasingly common and intense. Keeping up with the necessary clean-up work can be extremely difficult as communities find themselves buried in debris. Air Curtain Incinerators have been used to clean up numerous disasters, saving communities time and money. Air curtain incinerators can be used after almost any disaster since debris and destruction is always an unfortunate byproduct, but they may be needed the most after hurricanes, tornadoes, and ice storms.
Hurricanes
Large and intense hurricanes affect coastlines all around the country, but most commonly in the southeast in states such as Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Carolinas. In most cases, FEMA is in charge of debris pick-up and management. This comes at a large cost to tax payers, but this cost can be lessened. Let’s look at one example:
Hurricane Michael generated 117,000 dump truck loads of debris ( 6 piles the size of super Walmarts, but 360 feet tall!). More than $388,000,000 was paid to the FDOT for Hurricane Michael’s recovery. One report said FEMA spent $65 million just for the tree debris disposal costs in only 4 counties.
In the case of Hurricane Michael, in those four counties alone, an air curtain incinerator could have saved around $14,000,000 or more and kept 17,000 truckloads off of the road. Imagine those savings throughout all affected counties for the entirety of the project! Not to mention the reduction in traffic congestion, potential accidents, and frustration for local residents.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes often hit with little-to-no warning, leveling entire streets and neighborhoods- even large portions of cities- very quickly. To help speed up the recovery, air curtain burners can be brought in for the clean-up work. Vegetative debris from fallen or broken trees can all be collected and burned. Municipalities may even decide to bring in an air curtain incinerator themselves to reduce and eliminate the piles of debris being collected in the affected areas.
Ice Storms
After ice storms, branches can break off and entire trees can split. Hazardous limbs and mangled trees need to be removed, and leftover debris needs to be cleaned up. How does an air curtain burner provide a practical and cost-effective solution for the clean-up? After storms and disasters, air curtain burners can be brought in for the clean-up work. Vegetative debris from fallen or broken trees, which often snap beneath the heavy loads of ice and snow, can all be collected and burned in a cost-effective and safe way.
Air Curtain Incinerators and Large Scale Vegetative Debris Management
Air curtain destructors make all the difference after a natural disaster.
One reason they are such a good fit for communities that are in the middle of clean-up is that they can be set up quickly and are easily moved to other areas when needed. This means that the removal of the debris can begin right away.
Secondly, methods such as hauling and grinding present additional logistical challenges and expenses. Overcrowded landfills, tipping fees, trucking costs, and machine maintenance are just a few of these.
Many expect that grinding will mean less expense than hauling, but are surprised by the amount of maintenance they have on the machines, the delays incurred, and the overall debris volume that remains. Comparatively, one resource reports that air curtain incineration can reduce debris volume by up to 95 percent. The by-product is ash, which can be covered over or repurposed (See our article on How Ash Can Be Repurposed). Yes, air curtain burners are a fantastic solution for the massive question: what can we do with all of this debris?
For more interesting articles about ice storms, check out this interesting article about the 10 worst ice storms to hit in America.
PLEASE NOTE:
Due to harmful toxins and chemicals, burning construction debris and chemically treated wood, plastic, or rubber is often illegal due to its harmful effects on people and the environment.
Hypothetical Use Case Scenario: Tornado Debris Cleanup in a Georgia County
Putting real numbers to the idea: Let’s see how an air curtain incinerator would help speed up the clean-up after a natural disaster, all while saving tax-payer dollars.
Background
A devastating tornado has swept through a county in Georgia, destroying thousands of trees and resulting in approximately 50,000 cubic yards of debris. The county needs a rapid and efficient cleanup operation to restore infrastructure, ensure public safety, and minimize environmental hazards.
Objective
The primary goal is to remove and dispose of the debris as quickly as possible using the most cost-effective and efficient method. Three disposal methods are considered:
- Burning with Air Curtain Incinerators
- Hauling the debris to a landfill
- Grinding the debris with a horizontal grinder and hauling the chips to a landfill
Option 1: Burning with Air Curtain Incinerators
Operational Plan
- Air Curtain Incinerators: 3 units, each burning 75 cubic yards per hour
- Excavator: Loads debris into incinerators
- Fuel Consumption: 3 gallons of diesel per incinerator per hour
- Operational Hours: 9 hours per day
- Rental Cost: $5,000 per incinerator per month
Daily Processing Capacity
Each incinerator burns 75 cubic yards per hour for 9 hours per day, resulting in:
- Per Incinerator Daily Capacity: 75 × 9 = 675 cubic yards/day
- Total Daily Capacity (3 incinerators): 675 × 3 = 2,025 cubic yards/day
Timeframe for Cleanup
Total debris: 50,000 cubic yards
- Total Days Needed: 50,000 ÷ 2,025 ≈ 25 days
- Total Operational Months: Approximately 1 month
Fuel Requirements
- Per Incinerator Fuel Usage: 3 gallons/hour × 9 hours/day = 27 gallons/day
- Total Fuel for 3 Incinerators: 27 × 3 = 81 gallons/day
- Total Fuel for Cleanup (25 days): 81 × 25 = 2,025 gallons
Cost Analysis
- Incinerator Rental Cost (3 units for 1 month): $5,000 × 3 = $15,000
- Fuel Cost (assuming $4/gallon diesel): 2,025 gallons × $4 = $8,100
- Total Estimated Cost: $23,100
Pros & Cons
✔ Fast disposal (completed in ~25 days)
✔ Air curtain incineration reduces PM emissions compared to open burning by up to 95% due to higher combustion efficiency.
✔Minimal transportation required
✔ Reduces landfill use
✘ May require a burn permit
Option 2: Hauling the Debris to a Landfill
Operational Plan
- Truck Capacity: 40 cubic yards per load
- Distance to Landfill: 20 miles (assumed)
- Trips Required: 50,000 ÷ 40 = 1,250 truckloads
- Average Turnaround Time: 2 hours per trip (loading, hauling, unloading, returning)
- Daily Trips per Truck: 5 trips (assuming 10-hour workday)
- Trucks Required: 1,250 ÷ (5 trips × 25 days) = 10 trucks
Cost Analysis
- Truck Rental (per truck per month): $12,000 × 10 = $120,000
- Fuel Cost (assuming 6 mpg, $4/gallon diesel):
- 40-mile round trip per load = 6.67 gallons per trip
- 1,250 trips × 6.67 gallons = 8,337 gallons
- Fuel Cost: 8,337 × $4 = $33,348
- Landfill Tipping Fee ($5 per cubic yard):
- 50,000 × $5 = $250,000
- Total Estimated Cost: $403,348
Pros & Cons
✔ No burning or emissions
✔ No need for specialized incinerator equipment
✘ Still expensive, heavy truck traffic
Option 3: Grinding the Debris & Hauling the Chips to a Landfill
Operational Plan
- Horizontal Grinder Production Rate: 500 cubic yards per hour
- Operational Hours: 9 hours per day
- Daily Grinding Capacity: 500 × 9 = 4,500 cubic yards/day
- Total Chip Volume (expands 25% after grinding): 50,000 × 1.25 = 62,500 cubic yards
- Truckloads Required: 62,500 ÷ 32 = 1,953 truckloads
Cost Analysis
- Horizontal Grinder Rental (per month): $40,000
- Fuel for Grinder: $8,640
- Truck Rental (30 trucks for ~13 days): $360,000
- Fuel for Trucks: $52,104
- Landfill Tipping Fee ($5 per cubic yard): $312,500
- Total Estimated Cost: $773,244
Pros & Cons
✔ Volume reduction reduces the number of truckloads
✔ More environmentally friendly than direct hauling
✘ High cost, requires grinding step.
Recommendation
The Air Curtain Incinerator method is the fastest and most cost-effective solution, with a ~94% cost reduction compared to landfill hauling. While burning produces some emissions, it avoids overwhelming landfill space and heavy trucking logistics. The county should prioritize air curtain incineration for an efficient and budget-friendly cleanup.
BurnDebris.com can help you. Please call with any questions you have 678-855-1723