Sparking conversations

Not all conferences take the time to involve attendees in the discussion, but the North American Waste to Energy Conference (NAWTEC) is designed to do exactly that—get attendees talking. Now in its 23rd year, NAWTEC 2015, April 29-May 1, at the Marriott Tampa Waterside, Tampa, Florida, is building on the success it experienced in 2014 by offering more interactive sessions.

“We believe it is important to provide information at NAWTEC in a way that best serves the attendees,” says Ted Michaels, president of the Energy Recovery Council (ERC), Arlington, Virginia.

ERC and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Silver Spring, Maryland, cosponsor the event in partnership with the Waste-to-Energy Technology Council (WTERT) at Columbia University.

The theme of NAWTEC 23 is “Extracting Maximum Value from Waste in a Circular Economy.” It is a policy concept that Michaels says has taken hold in Europe and has engaged many large multinational companies.

“The circular economy is an incredibly interesting way of thinking about not only waste but materials management,” says Michaels. “While the circular economy focuses heavily on waste minimization and reuse, ensuring that all waste can be used as a resource is a critical element. At NAWTEC, we will begin to start thinking about the role of energy and materials recovery in a circular economy.”

Steven J. Jones, recently appointed president and CEO of Morristown, New Jersey-based Covanta, is among the keynote speakers during the opening plenary session April 30.
 

Tangible impact

According to Michaels, the 2015 program is designed to build off of the success of the interactive format introduced last year. “At NAWTEC 2014, we experimented for the first time with the WTE (Waste to Energy) Lightning Round, and it was a great success. Attendees appreciated the creative two-minute presentations and the energy generated by having speakers ‘on the clock.’”

The WTE Lightning Round returns in 2015, with new speakers all given a two-minute limit to present their topics, but that is not all in the way of interactive sessions. A “mega-session” titled “A Resource Recovery Park as a Circular Economy Incubator” is designed to liven the discussion even more. To prime the discussion, Kyle Mowitz, CEO and founder, Infinitus Energy, Plantation, Florida, lays the groundwork by giving a 30-minute overview of the resource recovery park concept.

“We have invited a panel of experts, representing different elements of the waste sector to discuss how to co-locate different technologies at a resource recovery park,” explains Michaels. “This unscripted session will challenge the panelists to address the key elements necessary for a successful resource recovery park.”

The panelists are seated center-stage with 360-degree audience seating surrounding them. “This exciting format will engage the audience and allow them to have a tangible impact on the proceedings,” Michaels predicts.

Perspectives explored during the session include local government, waste to energy (WTE), waste to biofuels, anaerobic digestion (AD), mixed waste processing, R&D, financing and manufacturing using recovered materials and energy. Among the panelists are Jim Warner, CEO, Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) Solid Waste Management Authority; Timothy Cesarek, senior vice president of business development, Enerkem Inc.; Peter Cromec, president, Hitachi Zosen Inova USA; Scott Miller, director of sustainability and product affairs, Knauf Insulation; Jandra Lubovich, senior vice president, Sterne, Agee and Leach Inc.; Robert Hyrve, general supervisor, facility operations, waste management services, city of Edmonton; and Marco Castaldi, associate professor, City College of New York (CCNY)/WTERT.

Following the interactive mega session, during a session titled “Ignite the Conversation” Michaels says, “We turn the microphone over to the audience and let them drive the conversation. This will turn the tables by making the audience into panelists and the panelists into the audience.”

He adds, “We believe this level of attendee engagement in the sessions will prove a valuable experience for everybody who comes to NAWTEC.”
 

Circular motion

The circular economy theme continues into day two of programming, with a session titled “How Can Facilities Extract Maximum Value in Offtake Markets?” Moderated by Covanta’s Paul Stauder, this session includes panelists Christopher Hessler, partner, AJW Inc., who addresses “Market Opportunities and Policy Considerations for Biofuels from Waste;” William Lensmyer, vice president, EMR, discusses “Optimizing Metal Recovery and Revenues;” and Randy Lack, chief marketing officer, Element Markets LLC, examines “Key Considerations in the Biogas Market.”

“Examining the Latest Research and Technology Developments” takes place concurrently and delves into key research and technology issues that will enable the sector to more effectively and efficiently recover energy and resources from waste.

These sessions are followed by a deeper look into European approaches on both the macro and micro levels in two different sessions. Lenny van Klink, director, Rebel Group, discusses “Lessons Learned in Europe: How can the United States implement a sustainable waste management policy that allows WTE to advance the circular economy?” while Ole Hedegaard Madsen, director of technology, Babcock & Wilcox Volund, discusses, “Waste-Fired Power Plant with Flue Gas Condensation: a European model in energy efficiency.”

Beneficial reuse of residuals is a key component of a circular economy to ensure that as little material as possible is managed as waste. In the session “How Can Residual Management Increase Economic Return?” attendees will learn how recovering metals and beneficially reusing ash outside of landfills is a critical component of closing loops and enhancing the economics of energy recovery.

The WTE sector prides itself in the ability to recover energy from waste in a clean and sustainable manner, yet project development never proceeds as easily as desired. In the session “What Does it Take to Develop WTE Projects in North America?” attendees will learn from experts about the most recent successful projects developed in North America. Ray Schauer, director of engineering and public works, Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, provides an update on the Palm Beach Renewable Energy Facility; Bruce Howie, HDR, shares information on the new Durham York Energy Centre; and John McDowell, Eisenmann Corp. examines CR&R’s AD project in Perris, California.

NAWTEC concludes with a session on emerging and innovative technologies designed to enhance the recovery of energy and materials from waste titled, “How Does Technology Innovation Help Create Value from Waste?” Attendees learn how innovators are maximizing economic returns and environmental benefits. Speakers include Allison Yeckel of Westinghouse Plasma and Daniel Dodd of Sierra Energy.

NAWTEC usually attracts 400 attendees, and Michaels says with an incredibly high interest in recovering value from the waste stream, this could be its biggest year yet. “Now in its 23rd year, NAWTEC continues to bring public and private sector officials and executives together to share information on the most important developments in energy and material recovery from municipal solid waste,” Michaels says.

More information on NAWTEC 23 is available at www.nawtec.org.

The author is managing editor of Renewable Energy from Waste and can be reached at ksmith@gie.net.