West Warwick Medical Waste Pyrolysis Plant Up For Public Hearing

WEST WARWICK — A controversial medical waste-to-energy plant proposed for a West Warwick industrial park will be the topic of a public hearing on March 15 as the facility's New Jersey-based proponents seek an operating license from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

The pyrolysis project planned for 1600 Division Rd. has already received an air pollution permit from RIDEM. Many residents of West Warwick and nearby East Greenwich have been been vocal in their opposition and are contesting the license.

According to RIDEM, the facility would treat regulated medical waste up to 70 tons per day using pyrolysis, a high-heat system that differs from incineration in that it does not use oxygen. The plant would produce a synthetic gas used to produce electricity. It would also produce a solid ash-like material that would be trucked offsite and disposed of in accordance with state regulations. It would produce a flammable tar used to heat the vitrification, or drying system. It would also produce air emissions.

The applicants propose to shred untreated medical waste, and RIDEM says that can only be done in a fully enclosed environment. Any license would be conditioned to to require separate testing on the system to verify if bacterial spores are released during the shredding. The testing can only be done when the system is operational, RIDEM states in a Feb. 5 memo.

The memo states that medical waste would be stored on site in trailers and in containers inside the building. The permit would limit operations to 25 trailers of medical waste stored outdoors and 20 containers of medical waste stored inside the facility. The applicant would be required to post a bond to allow the state to dispose of the waste in the event the facility became insolvent.

The MedRecycler-RI facility is being proposed by Nicholas Campanella, CEO of Sun Pacicif Power Corp located in Manalapan, New Jersey.

RIDEM's public hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 15, at 4 p.m.

• Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5211383116
• Meeting ID: 521 138 3116
• Join by Phone: 1-929-205-6099

After the meeting, the public comment period will remain open for 30
days, after which the DEM will have 90 days to issue a decision.