The Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority manages three waste-to-energy facilities that burn trash to generate steam and electricity in Harford and Montgomery counties, and Baltimore City. Last week, Carroll County voted to join Frederick County in building a fourth. Harford County plans to expand its facility, said Authority Director Robin Davidov.

Why have Carroll and Harford had such different reactions to plans for new waste-to-energy plants?

The difference, I think, is that Harford County has had 20 years’ experience with a waste-to-energy facility. It’s been very reliable, it’s been a good neighbor and it’s generated electricity for the nearby Army base. Those counties which have had experience with waste-to-energy have had a good experience, and those without experience have a lot of questions.

   

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How does waste-to-energy compare to increased recycling, which is being discussed as an alternative in Carroll?

Our first steps are to reduce, reuse and recycle. But not everything can be recycled. To those who say, “Let’s recycle more instead of burning it for energy,” it’s not an either/or. Harford County has the highest recycling rate in the state [57 percent in 2006], so they know the difference between waste that can be recycled and that which can’t. Most of Carroll’s trash isn’t being recycled right now. It’s going 190 miles to a landfill in Virginia.

How do you respond to citizens’ worries about the facilities producing greenhouse gases and pollutants such as dioxins?

Waste-to-energy plants actually emit less greenhouse gas than trucking and landfilling garbage because landfills produce methane, which is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Dioxins are really pervasive. We’re pretty sure — not 100 percent — but pretty sure they’re destroyed at really high temperatures.