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Across North America, businesses and governments are seeking cleaner and economical alternative
energy sources. Waste Management sees waste as a resource and is a leader in the development
of innovative technologies to extract the value from the waste stream. One of these
technologies is Processed Engineered Fuel, or SpecFUEL, which is produced by Waste Management.
SpecFUEL is both an environmentally beneficial and economic alternative for coal and petroleum
coke. SpecFUEL is an alternative fuel manufactured from high-energy value materials extracted
from post-recycled municipal solid waste. Using mechanical sorting equipment, waste
is segregated with materials of value, extracted to be recycled. The remaining residual materials
are shredded, dried, and densified to create an alternative fuel. The fuel burns cleaner
than coal and petroleum coke and can be co-combusted with or replace coal in its entirety. This
alternative fuel is manufactured under strict engineering controls and designed to meet
strict end-user solid fuel specifications with virtually no process emissions. Compared
to refuse-derived fuel, SpecFUEL is a refined, uniform product with low ash and moisture,
and a higher and more consistent BTU heating value. It's also easy to transport. Processed
engineered fuel is a technology being used in Europe and Waste Management has developed
a commercial production facility located at its Covel Gardens Disposal Facility in San
Antonio, Texas. The facility has a processing capacity of 300,000 tons of waste per year
and can generate 165,000 tons of fuel per year. The fuel generated at this facility
is being used by industrial customers in the surrounding area. The economic benefits of
SpecFUEL are numerous. SpecFUEL is ideal for any industrial user that is using coal to
produce energy or steam, looking to reduce pollutant emissions, and make use of a product
that is diverted from landfills. This includes companies in chemical, pulp and paper, textiles,
pharmaceutical and metal manufacturing, as well as kiln based cement plants, utilities
and district energy facilities. SpecFUEL supplements or replaces coal or petroleum coke to produce
steam, electricity, or heat. It's a low fossil carbon, high BTU energy source, may be eligible
for Renewable Energy Credits in some states, and can be used in existing energy facilities
with little or no modification of solid fuel systems. For industrial users of coal and
petroleum coke, SpecFUEL is a low sulfur emission energy source. It can also be part of a closed-loop
system, allowing customers to use their own waste as a fuel source. "The system converts
up to 55% of the waste materials processed into engineered fuel pellets. Of the remaining
residuals, up to 10% could be recycled. Collectively, up to 65% of the waste materials processed
could be diverted from landfill disposal." Waste Management is also exploring the diversion
of food and yard waste, which could add another 25% of the remaining materials diverted from
the waste stream. A number of states recognized waste-based fuel as an alternative energy
source and allow electricity producers using it to earn Renewable Energy Credits. "SpecFUEL
is an example of our company's commitment to new and innovative Waste Technologies to
extract value from the waste stream." Waste Management is your energy partner for a processed,
engineered fuel that is both an environmentally beneficial and economic replacement for coal
and petroleum coke. Processed Engineered Fuel, or SpecFUEL, produced by Waste Management.