The facility operates two (2) Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-fired combustors (MWCs) capable of processing 240 tons per day and 84,000 tons per year. The facility’s mass burn combustion system incorporates the Enercon technology. Waste is combusted at furnace temperatures above 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and reduced to an inert ash residue that is approximately 10% of its original volume. Before leaving the facility, combustion air is directed through a series of technologically advanced air pollution control equipment including an activated carbon injection system to effectively manage mercury and dioxins, followed by electrostatic precipitators, venturi scrubbers and wet scrubbers. Both facility emissions and residual ash are strictly and aggressively regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as federal agencies. The steam produced by the MWCs is sent to Crane & Company, makers of currency paper stock for the United States as well as other countries world-wide. The facility is also equipped with a steam turbine, designed to convert steam not purchased by Crane & Company into electricity to serve the internal power needs of the facility,.

• Diagram of Process ( Diagram )
• Pollution Control
  • Air emissions are controlled by high efficiency combustion within the furnace/boiler and state-of-the-art air quality control equipment.
    • Highly efficient combustion controls potential organic pollutants as well as carbon monoxide.
    • The activated carbon injection system controls mercury emissions and has been found to reduce dioxin levels to well below the standards as well.
    • The electrostatic precipitator uses an electrical charge to capture particulate (fly ash).
    • The cleaned gases then proceed through a venturi scrubber for further removal of remaining particulate and heavy metals.
    • The wet scrubber is the final capture point for acid gas and other emissions prior to release of the cleaned gas stream to the atmosphere.

Covanta Pittsfield, LLC also utilizes state-of-the art continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS). The CEMS measures the stack gas for emissions, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, oxygen and opacity and allows the control room to continuously monitor the performance of each combustor unit. The CEMS data is monitored and reviewed in-house and provided to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.