[Garbage incineration plants -- planning, organisation and operation from health point of view]

The Waste Disposal Regulation which became effective March 1, 2001 stipulates that from June 1, 2005 biodegradable residential household and commercial waste may only be deposited on landfills after thermal or mechanical-biological pre-treatment. The Regulation aims at preventing generation of landfill gases that are detrimental to health and climate, and discharge of pollutants from landfills into the groundwater. Waste calculations for the year 2005 predict a volume of 28 million tons. Existing incineration and mechanical-biological treatment plants cover volumes of 14 and 2.5 million tons, respectively. Consequently, their capacity does not meet the demand in Germany. Waste disposal plans have been prepared in the German Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt since 1996 and potential sites for garbage incineration plants have been identified. Energy and waste management companies have initiated application procedures for thermal waste treatment plants and utilization of energy. Health Departments and the Hygiene Institute contributed to the approval procedure by providing the required Health Impact Assessment. We recommended selecting sites in the vicinity of large cities and conurbations and - taking into account the main wind direction - preferably in the northeast. Long-distance transport should be avoided. Based on immission forecasts for territorial background pollution, additional noise and air pollution were examined for reasonableness. In addition, providing structural safety of plants and guaranteeing continuous monitoring of emission limit values of air pollutants, was a prerequisite for strict observance of the 17 (th) BImSchV (Federal Decree on the Prevention of Immissions). The paper informs about planning, construction and conditions for operating the combined garbage heating and power station in Magdeburg-Rothensee (600,000 t/a). Saxony-Anhalt's waste legislation requires non-recyclable waste to be disposed of at the place of its generation, if possible, and utilized as a renewable energy source. This requirement is satisfied in this location. The potential health hazard for residents living in the impact radius is rated low.