Figure 5-8. Municipal waste can be converted directly to energy by burning it. The heat energy can
then be used for industrial processes or electrical generation. This waste-to-energy plant also
recovers metals from the shredded waste before the burnable waste is sent to the furnace.
(Union Electric Company)
Collection
and transfer
terminal
Rail transit
Power plant
Collection truck
Packer
Container
2 containers per flatcar
Air
classifier
3/4″ shredder
Storage bin
Air to
blower
Stack
Precipitator
Ash to
storage pond
Boiler/Furnace
Cyclone
separator
Heavies
processing
Coal
Heavies
Lights
(Contractor)
(Contractor)
Magnetic separator
6″ shredder
Aluminum
Nonferrous metals
processing plant
Copper
Brass
Steel
scrap
De-tinning
plant
Tin
Figure 5-9. For thousands of years, waterwheels have been used to harness
the energy of flowing water. This large wheel is part of a restored gristmill
located alongside a creek. The wheel is more than 10′ in diameter.
Chapter 5
104