Using Air Curtain Incinerators For Landfills

In This Article:

1. The waste problem faced by landfills
2. Making landfills more sustainable
3. Air Curtain Burners for landfills

The Problem

Landfills are necessary to maintain clean living environments and dispose of trash properly. But there are a few problems.

One problem is that landfills are running out of space for trash, and states are running out of land for landfills. See this article here.  

The second problem is that having large amounts of land dedicated to landfills is not positive for the environment. To learn more about why, see this article here. 

The Solution

Since it is not always possible, and rarely advantageous, to simply acquire more land, we need to make more room on the land we have. How so? The most logical thing to do is reduce waste and volume. 

What Can Help

Air Curtain Incinerators are machines that drastically reduce waste volume in a sustainable way. 

According to available data, it can be estimated that 20-25% of trash in landfills can be considered vegetative debris, which includes yard waste like grass clippings, leaves, tree limbs, and untreated wood, with some regions reporting even higher percentages depending on composting practices and local waste management strategies. This means that 20-25% of landfill space can be eliminated. Since air curtain destructors reduce volume by around 97%, simply using these burning machines on-site could take landfills from having 20-25% of their space filled with vegetative debris to a tiny .75% of space being taken up by the resulting ash. 

Let’s do the math and see how this can translate into real-world savings.

Example Scenario: Saving Over $5 Million Annually:  Evaluating Wood Waste Reduction Strategies for Landfill Space Optimization

Background: A landfill owner is confronting a critical issue: the facility is rapidly approaching capacity due to the substantial influx of wood waste. Wood waste is particularly problematic as it doesn’t compact well and decomposes slowly, consuming valuable landfill space. To address this, the owner is considering two primary strategies:

1. Horizontal Grinding: Processing the wood waste to reduce its volume.
2. Air Curtain Incineration: Burning the wood waste to significantly decrease its mass and volume.

Objective: Assess the financial and operational implications of both methods, focusing on initial investment, operational costs, and the economic value of the space saved within the landfill.

First, let’s look at some landfills and the way an air curtain incinerator can save them millions.

What does a landfill charge on average for taking tree debris waste?

Landfill disposal fees for tree debris vary depending on the facility and location.

In Florida, landfill disposal fees for tree debris range from $32.50 to $75.00 per ton. Landfill disposal fees for tree debris, often categorized as yard waste or horticultural trash, vary by county. Here are some examples:

Another example: in New York State prices are often higher. For example, the Rockland Green facility charges $150 per ton for tree stumps, while Broome County’s landfill charges $55 per ton for tree trunks and stumps. 

As you can see, these fees can differ significantly across regions and facilities. It’s advisable to contact your local landfill or waste management facility directly to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date pricing for tree debris disposal.

Data and Assumptions:

• Annual Wood Waste Intake: 75,000 tons
• Volume Conversion: 1 ton of raw wood waste equals 6.66 cubic yards

Air Curtain Incinerator:

• New Unit Cost (AirBurner): $216,000 with a 1-year warranty
• Refurbished Unit Cost (BurnDebris.com): $185,000 with a 2-year warranty
• Savings by Purchasing from BurnDebris.com: $216,000 – $185,000 = $31,000
• Reduction Efficiency: 96% volume reduction
• Diesel Consumption: 3 gallons per hour
• Diesel Cost: $4 per gallon
• Operational Overhead: $5 per hour (includes engine replacement after 10,000 hours, oil changes, and required services over 5 years)
• Residual Ash Volume: 1 ton of residual ash = 2 cubic yards

Horizontal Grinder:

• Initial Cost: Approximately $500,000 (based on market listings)
• Volume Reduction: Estimated at 50%
• Operational Costs: Varies; for this analysis, assume $250 per operational hour
• Operational Hours: Both machines operate 8 hours per day, 250 days per year

Landfill Tipping Fees in Florida:

• Broward County: $75 per ton
• Miami-Dade County: $74.40 per ton
• Pinellas County: $54.50 per ton
• St. Lucie County: $69 per ton
• Martin County: $32.50 per ton

Calculations:

1. Total Annual Volume of Wood Waste:
• 75,000 tons × 6.66 cubic yards/ton = 499,500 cubic yards
2. Air Curtain Incinerator:
• Residual Ash After Incineration: 75,000 tons × 4% = 3,000 tons
• Volume of Residual Ash: 3,000 tons × 2 cubic yards/ton = 6,000 cubic yards
• Space Saved Annually: 499,500 cubic yards – 6,000 cubic yards = 493,500 cubic yards
• Annual Diesel Consumption: 3 gallons/hour × 8 hours/day × 250 days/year = 6,000 gallons
• Annual Fuel Cost: 6,000 gallons × $4/gallon = $24,000
• Annual Operational Overhead Cost: 8 hours/day × 250 days/year × $5/hour = $10,000 covers the cost of maintenance and 1 complete engine replacement every 10,000 hours.
• Total First-Year Cost (BurnDebris.com Unit): $185,000 (initial) + $24,000 (fuel) + $10,000 (overhead) = $219,000
• Total First-Year Cost (New AirBurner Unit): $216,000 (initial) + $24,000 (fuel) + $10,000 (overhead) = $250,000
• Total Savings in First Year: $250,000 – $219,000 = $31,000
• Subsequent Annual Operating Cost: $34,000

1. Horizontal Grinder:
• Volume After Grinding: 499,500 cubic yards × 50% = 249,750 cubic yards
• Space Saved Annually: 499,500 cubic yards – 249,750 cubic yards = 249,750 cubic yards
• Annual Operational Hours: 8 hours/day × 250 days/year = 2,000 hours
• Annual Operating Cost: 2,000 hours × $250/hour = $500,000
• Total First-Year Cost: $500,000 (initial) + $500,000 (operation) = $1,000,000
• Subsequent Annual Operating Cost: $500,000

1. Economic Value of Space Saved:
• Air Curtain Incinerator:
• Example (Broward County): 493,500 cubic yards × ($75/ton ÷ 6.66 cubic yards/ton) = $5,558,108
• Horizontal Grinder:
• Example (Broward County): 249,750 cubic yards × ($75/ton ÷ 6.66 cubic yards/ton) = $2,812,500

Comparison Table:

Economic Value of Space Saved in Each County:

Conclusion:

The Air Curtain Incinerator offers a higher volume reduction efficiency, leading to more significant space savings and lower operational costs, compared to the Horizontal Grinder. Purchasing the unit from BurnDebris.com instead of a new AirBurner saves an additional $31,000, making it the most cost-effective choice. This analysis suggests that, for the landfill owner, investing in an Air Curtain Incinerator from BurnDebris.com is the best financial and operational decision to maximize landfill efficiency.