The not-for-profit Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) has published two reports, both resulting from its Internal Research Program (IRP).

The reports are “Using Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as a Biofuel Feedstock” and “Anaerobic Digestion of MSW: Report on the State of Practice.”

The IRP was developed as part of EREF’s effort to expand its mission to advance knowledge and education for sustainable solid waste management.

“The primary objective of the IRP is to aggregate and analyze solid waste data,” explains Dr. Bryan Staley, EREF president and CEO. “The program also provides valuable experience to undergraduate and graduate students who assist in data gathering and analysis.”

Examples of IRP projects include collection and aggregation of general waste data, policy analysis (such as comparing recycling policies from state to state) and evaluating statistical trends and correlations (e.g. evaluating the relationship between population demographics, human behavior and recycling rates).

“Using Municipal Solid Waste as a Biofuel Feedstock,” utilizes a life-cycle assessment model of biofuel production using MSW to assess the environmental impacts associated with MSW conversion via landfill gas to energy, waste to energy, and gasification, and explores how current infrastructure could be used to support an MSW-to-biofuels industry. The project was conducted in partnership with North Carolina State University and Maverick Biofuels, with funding provided by the Biofuels Center of North Carolina. This free report includes detailed summaries of waste conversion processes, a comparison of environmental impacts of waste conversion systems, a case study of current waste management infrastructure, estimates of biofuel production potential, and key observations regarding siting and feedstock for biofuel production.

“Anaerobic Digestion of MSW: Report on the State of Practice,” summarizes the use of anaerobic digestion (AD) to manage MSW organics in the United States, and includes analysis of original data based on a comprehensive nationwide facility survey conducted by EREF. The report includes detailed discussion of digester microbiology and process characteristics; current technologies and reactor designs; the number and types of AD facilities managing MSW; tonnage, capacity and growth through 2017; biogas production, management, and energy generation; state, local and corporate organics management policies. The report also includes lists of vendors and information on commercial reactor designs and facilities. This inaugural report is being offered at a discounted price of $72 per copy, less than half the price of comparable data reports, EREF says.

EREF says that proceeds from reports sales are used to support internships for college students who gain valuable experience in the solid waste field while working toward their degree.

More information on EREF’s IRP projects and how to obtain these reports can be found at www.erefdn.org/internalresearch or via email at [email protected].