Re: On the topic of fly ash

["Jon Campbell" <jon@cqs.com>]

Lynda,

       Alex and Alan are both correct. Additionally, if the process is
patented, then you can go to the patent office, get the patent application,
and publish it. Once patented, the formula and mechanism are considered
public knowledge and cannot be kept secret. It is protected from
infringement by law and license agreements, so there is no need for secrecy.
(it's probably a fallacious patent as well, a patent on an obvious process).

      My own guess is that this is the "Westphix" (or "Westfix") patent on
mixing of ashes, liming and addition of a few other "stabilization"
chemicals. Wheelabrator tried to use this as an argument here in claiming
that their ash was safe. That argument was blown out of the water by the
revelation that the leachate from their Claremont, NH facility ash dump had
failed the test for lead levels.

       Paul Connett, one of the world's experts on incinerator emissions and
ash schemes (his telephone number is on my website at www.cqs.com/eorg.htm)
has information that refutes this supposed "ash stabilization technology".

regards
Jon Campbell
-----Original Message-----
From: Lynda M Lukasik <llukasik@worldchat.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list DIOXIN-L <dioxin-l@essential.org>
Date: Tuesday, August 04, 1998 9:13 AM
Subject: On the topic of fly ash


>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?
>
>Cheers,
>Lynda Lukasik
>Hamilton, Ontario
>
>
>