Waste-To-Energy in the United States: Socioeconomic Factors and the Decision-Making Process

This study takes an in-depth look at the socioeconomic factors that have played a role in the decisions of communities that have considered Waste-To-Energy as a component of their solid waste management strategies. More specifically, a three-pronged; approach is adopted to investigate (1) the relationships between a municipality's decision to consider and accept/reject WTE; and key socioeconomicparameters, (2) the potential impacts of recent changes in financial markets on the viability of WTE,; and (3) the WTE decision-making process and the socioeconomic parameters that are most important in the municipality's decision. The first two objectives are met by the collection and analysis of aggregate data on all U.S. WTE initiatives during the 1982 to 1990 time frame. The latter objectiveis met by way of four in-depth case studies--two directed at communities that have accepted WTE and two that have cancelled WTE projects.