Knokke incinerator breaches carbon monoxide emission levels on 30 days in two months

01/04/2009 - Measurements in the Dalkia waste incinerator of Knokke-Heist, Belgium early 2009 have shown that exhaust emission levels for carbon monoxide (CO) had been breached on 30 separate days. The emission level for CO exceeded the acceptable limits on 9 days in January, and 21 days in February when even the month limit was exceeded.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless, yet highly toxic gas that forms when there is a reduced availability of oxygen present during the incineration process.

According to Dalkia, the firm running the plant, extra oxygen had to be injected while burning waste to reduce CO emissions. The extra oxygen is supposed to limit the emission of CO as the extra oxygen will convert the CO to CO₂.

The Economic slowdown

"The waste processed in the incinerator is typically half municipal waste, and half industrial waste ", explains city councillor Maxim Willems.
"Due to the economic slowdown, the amount of municipal waste is in decline, disturbing the balance of the system. That causes several negative effects, including more CO-emissions. The operator of the plant keeps a close eye on the situation." According to the city councillor, the amount of municipal waste processed by the incinerator declined by 4.000 tons in 2008.

The environmental department of Knokke-Heist points towards another source for the increase in CO-emissions, the quality of the burned waste.
"We get waste that is not what we expect, such as large chunks of steel or concrete. These are causing the increase CO emissions."

Sources: belga/edp, ORO, Stop de Oven