Summary
This executive summary presented for the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University proposes replacement of their existing Incinerator Facility with a new Waste Management Facility that utilizes Alkaline Hydrolysis to process and sterilize veterinary research remains.
Highlights
- Alkaline Hydrolysis is proposed as the new method because:
- It is effective in sterilizing the remains
- It is a good long term choice regarding maintenance and overall cost
- It is an environmentally responsible choice
- Using Alkaline Hydrolysis instead of incineration has significant positive impacts, including:
- Increased protection of public health since Alkaline Hydrolysis removes prions and other causative agents which cause “Mad Cow Disease” and other sicknesses
- Increased air quality in surrounding area, since Alkaline Hydrolysis has drastically lower emissions levels than incineration (see chart below)
- Increased protection of occupational safety and health, since facility workers would not be exposed to such high levels of biological and chemical hazards or emissions
- Decreased energy consumption (see chart below) due to:
- reduced natural gas consumption vs. incineration
- methane gas released when treating the new facility’s wastewater will be reused to generate heat and power for that facility
- Significant decrease in operating costs
Credit Malcolm Pirnie for this informational chart.
Credit Malcolm Pirnie for this informational chart.
- Some potential adverse impacts of the new Alkaline Hydrolysis facility are noted in this report, along with feasible mitigation plans for each
- Other alternative options and the reasons why they were not chosen are also presented
- Lastly, the report covers approvals needed and a project timeline
For the full report, please click the link below to view the report in .pdf format.
Cornell Executive Summary – Waste Management Facility (.pdf)
