Re: On the topic of fly ash

["Alex J. Sagady & Associates" <ajs@sagady.com>]

 At 08:57 AM 8/4/1998 -0400, you wrote:
>Does anyone have any idea what players in the incineration business mean
>when they describe fly ash as being 'neutralized'?  Canadian Waste
>(formerly Laidlaw) uses a patented technique to 'neutralize' bottom and fly
>ash prior to shipping the ash off to landfill.  The claim is that this
>technique 'renders bottom ash non-hazardous'  - not clear what becomes of
>the fly ash.  Because the method used is patented, community members have
>been denied any explanation of what exactly is done to the ash.  
>
>Anyone have any understanding of this method and whether it really does
>render  bottom ash non-hazardous?


This probably refers to the practice of adjusting the pH of MSW ash upward
by using lime as an additive.    In general, toxic metals contained in the 
ash are less available for leaching at higher pH levels.    However even this
technique is not likely to be of much use if the MSW ash is co-disposed with 
ordinary solid waste.


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Environmental Consulting and Database Systems
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