A controversial plan for a Connecticut incinerator to burn medical waste and to renew its permit to operate a resources recovery facility will be aired by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in November, according to the state agency.
Widespread public backlash has erupted against Reworld‘s bid to burn medical trash at its Connecticut incinerator and the public will be able to share comments at the hearing.
Reworld Bristol, Inc., a resources recovery facility at170 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, has five applications submitted under Connecticut state laws and and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, according to DEEP.
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The applications are for: modification of a resources recovery facility, a new biomedical waste treatment facility, and renewal of permit to operate a resources recovery facility, which all “relate to a solid waste permit for the modification and renewal of (a) permit to operate and establishment of a biomedical waste treatment facility,” according to DEEP.
Reworld, formerly known as Covanta, is applying for state permission to burn up to 57 tons of medical waste a day, including bedding, surgical gowns, used bandages, needles, vials, IV bags and similar items. Scores of homeowners in Bristol, Southington and Plainville have united to block the plan, concerned about the potential risk of new types of infectious or toxic air pollutants.
There are also minor modifications requested to “allow for the firing of biomedical waste in accordance with the applicant’s applicable Bureau of Waste Management permit,” according to DEEP.
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Through the applications, Reworld Bristol, Inc. “proposes to modify the existing resources recovery facility to accept and process Biomedical Waste,” and the facility is permitted to receive and process municipal solid waste and special waste and/or processed construction and demolition wood, according to DEEP.
Reworld proposes to construct a biomedical waste annex to the facility building for the management of said waste; all “BMW will be kept separate from all other wastes until the BMW is fed into the boilers using a computer controlled mechanical conveyor system. BMW does not include human fetal tissue, human remains, bulk pathological wastes, bulk chemotherapeutic wastes, formaldehyde, iodine, other preservatives or free flowing Biomedical liquid wastes,” according to DEEP.
Reworld’s permit application indicates it would have small delivery trucks bring medical waste in sealed boxes from hospitals and other customers. It said it would put up a small building exclusively for those deliveries; boxes would be put on a conveyor from there to the incinerator, shielding most workers and regular trash collections drivers from any risk of contact.
The agency hearing on the applications begins at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7, via Zoom. Registration is required; to register use the following link: https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vd-GpqjopHddManddQgke4HBVN2dgNjbE.
Written comments will be accepted at the public hearing and until the close of business on Nov. 18, a new deadline. Written comments may be submitted by email to [email protected] or by mail at the Office of Adjudications, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm St., Hartford, 06106.
The application will continue with an evidentiary hearing, for presentation of testimony and documents, on Nov. 21, at 9 a.m., via Zoom. Registration is required; to register use this link: https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdu6rrT4vE9YPY7BaWfmyqcDPU5Y2TNTN.
A site visit will be held on Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. Anyone attending the site visit should be present at Reworld Bristol, Inc., 170 Enterprise Drive, Bristol. Safety vests, hardhats, and safety glasses will be provided by the applicant, but if those attending have their own PPE, please bring it to the visit to help ensure enough PPE to satisfy all needs. “Site visits are an opportunity for the hearing officer to observe the general characteristics of a site to provide visual references that may be useful in understanding the testimony and exhibits to be presented. While the site visit is a public meeting, it is not an opportunity for public comments or questions,” according to DEEP.
A pre-hearing conference for the parties to discuss pre-hearing procedures will be held Oct. 1, at 1:30 p.m., via Zoom. It is a public meeting but not an opportunity for the public to provide comment. Anyone who wants to observe the meeting must register, using the following link: https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtcuugrzotHtzM8N0PORDyp16UKowRjktM.
