What are the advantages and disadvantages of WTE combustion? ...

[jrubin]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of WTE combustion?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Suppose some commercial interests want to create a large new development on what is presently wetlands.
 
  Describe a debate between those representing the commercial interests and those representing environmentalists who are concerned about the environmental and economic costs of development. Work toward negotiating a consensus.

[durant1234]

Answer to Question 1

The advantages of WTE facilities include reducing trash weight by over 70 and volume by 90, concentrating toxic or hazardous substances into two streams of ash, eliminating the need to change trash collection procedures or people's behavior, and generating electricity.
The disadvantages include MSW not burning cleanly, adverse health effects (especially from older or poorly managed facilities), cost to build the WTE facility, hazardous characteristics of the ash, options for MSW reduced, and resource and energy loss.

Answer to Question 2

Most communities have some type of development occurring. It could be very informative to send the students to a city, county, or township planning meeting. Most local governments have a planning office. A small group of students could interview a knowledgeable person in the planning office.
Each side should present economic benefitsthe benefits from development and the benefits derived from a wetland. The ability to create a wetland should be discussed; how likely are we to replicate existing wetlands? Alternatives such as moving the development should be discussed.

[jrubin]

Thank you

[durant1234]

Happy to help you