In order to ensure maximum control over the environmental impact of the waste-to-energy plant, TRM has set up a Monitoring Plan that includes continuous and periodic measurements on a number of parameters. As prescribed, the Monitoring Plan began with the characterisation of the Environmental Baseline Study, an analysis that provided a snapshot of the environmental situation prior to the construction of the plant. Monitoring continued during the construction of the plant and still continues in the operational phase.

Emission monitoring system

During the plant’s operational phase, environmental monitoring is carried out through the Emission Monitoring System (EMS), which analyses the flue gas flow generated by the combustion of waste at three different points of the process: at the boiler, upstream of the flue gas treatment system and at the chimney. The plant is equipped with instrumentation capable of analysing the flue gas already in the boiler and before their very treatment: these operations make it possible to regulate the operation of the waste-to-energy plant to minimise the creation of pollutants well before the treatment phase. Finally, each line has two identical sets of analysers.

The emission parameters are monitored both continuously (carbon monoxide, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, ammonia, sulphur oxides, total organic carbon, dust, nitrogen oxides and mercury) and with periodic sampling (dioxins, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals), according to the timetables indicated by the regulations and the IPPC Permit. Although it is not required by law and there is currently no analytical instrumentation capable of measuring dioxins and furans in real time, TRM has equipped the plant with a continuous detection system that uses automatic samplers (one for each combustion line) to collect the pollutants in vials that are then sent to specialised and certified laboratories.

For further information: Measured parameters

The Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS)

As further confirmation of the attention devoted to emission control, in October 2012 – i.e. well before the plant became operational – TRM installed an AQMS in the municipality of Beinasco (Aldo Mei garden, Fornaci district). Operated by ARPA, the Station is included in the Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network and measures atmospheric concentrations of pollutants in the air. The AQMS measures – continuously – nitrogen oxides, benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons, and also periodically samples PM10/2.5 particulate matter and ground depositions in order to determine quantities of metals, PAHs, dioxins and mercury. A dedicated instrument for sampling dioxins in air completes the equipment of the AQMS.

For further information on the analysis carried out by the control unit: : https://www.arpa.piemonte.it/approfondimenti/territorio/torino/impianti/termovalorizzatore-del-gerbido/copy13_of_termovalorizzatore-cosa

To consult the control unit data go to: http://www.sistemapiemonte.it/ambiente/srqa/index.shtml