Pipe brings coal ash waste from power plant to impoundment

Nowe Czarnowo, Poland

The power plant producing this waste is between Berlin and Stettin, and in 2016 was the 59th worst carbon emitter in Europe. Its toxic emissions, which were observed blowing toward Berlin, include mercury, 147k, flourine, 3,500k, sulphur oxides, 2,020,000k and chlorine, 154,000k.

Coal combustion produces three kinds of solid waste: fly ash which goes up the chimney, bottom ash which falls to the bottom of the steam boiler furnace, and sludge that accumulates in exhaust scrubbers. Fly ash, one of the main causes of smog, is collected as it leaves the smokestack. Bottom ash, heavy and rock-like, is collected from the grates at the bottom of the furnace. The sludge collected from the scrubbers consists of gypsum laden with accumulated contaminants, especially sulphur.