EPA considers strengthening Clean Air Act standards for plants that burn municipal solid waste

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to make changes to Clean Air Act standards. These proposed alterations would affect large facilities that burn municipal solid waste. The revised standards would limit the emissions of nine pollutants by 14,000 tons per year. These pollutants include particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, lead, cadmium, mercury, and dioxins/furans. According to the agency, these changes take into consideration current technologies available to control pollution in a cost-effective fashion. The revised standards would affect 57 facilities with 152 units that have the ability to combust more than 250 tons of municipal solid waste every day. 

In a recent quote, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said, “President Biden believes every person deserves clean air to breathe and the opportunity to lead a healthy life, and EPA’s proposal is just the latest action to achieve this vision. By reducing harmful pollution and improving air quality, this rule will also advance environmental justice for nearby communities already overburdened with pollution. EPA is committed to working with communities and state, local, and Tribal governments to ensure that large facilities burning municipal waste utilize the most up-to-date and cost-effective control technologies to reduce pollution and protect public health.”