Pollution

[Bay Kid]

With all the talk about saving our world from pollution, cars, etc. Why doesn't anyone stop all the burning? Seems like The Villages has some smoke daily.

[Keefelane66]

Since we’re burning trash for energy we should be doing the same with the removal of trees

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Since we’re burning trash for energy we should be doing the same with the removal of trees

When burning trash for energy, minimal exhaust is sent into the air. It is cycled back into the system instead - which is how it becomes energy instead of exhaust.

When burning wood, some becomes heat, and the rest is all exhaust. If you can cycle the exhaust to become energy, then sure - go for it. If not, then it just adds to the air quality (or lack thereof).

[Topspinmo]

With all the talk about saving our world from pollution, cars, etc. Why doesn't anyone stop all the burning? Seems like The Villages has some smoke daily.


Sure not you’re neighbors burning in there Chimenea or fire pit?

[ton80]

When burning trash for energy, minimal exhaust is sent into the air. It is cycled back into the system instead - which is how it becomes energy instead of exhaust.

When burning wood, some becomes heat, and the rest is all exhaust. If you can cycle the exhaust to become energy, then sure - go for it. If not, then it just adds to the air quality (or lack thereof).

As stated in the Title, in both incineration and burning trees, the products of combustion are exhausted to the atmosphere.

The main difference is that in an incinerator the combustion creates an exhaust stream at high temperature. The heat recovery process produces an energy stream that can generate electricity. There are some pollutants that are removed by scrubbers but essentially all of the other combustion products are exhausted to the atmosphere.

Burning trees in a brush pile exhausts all products of combustion to the atmosphere. The combustion process is not complete and smoke and ash can be released. In addition, since combustion is not contained or controlled, there is no way to recover heat that can be converted into electric power.

If the brush pile material was sent to an incinerator, heat could be recovered and used to generate electric power. The economics most probably would not justify the investment in transportation and additional new incineration and power generation facilities.

I would guess that the income from the Incineration is mainly the disposal fee cost per ton of trash burnt with the sale of power a smaller part of the income.

The main economic difference is that open burning of brush at the construction site is permitted. Open burning of trash is not permitted, Trash must be sent to approved disposal sites at a far distance ( I believe in Georgia) since there were no available closer trash disposal facilities.

[John Mayes]

As stated in the Title, in both incineration and burning trees, the products of combustion are exhausted to the atmosphere.

The main difference is that in an incinerator the combustion creates an exhaust stream at high temperature. The heat recovery process produces an energy stream that can generate electricity. There are some pollutants that are removed by scrubbers but essentially all of the other combustion products are exhausted to the atmosphere.

Not exactly correct.

Lake | Covanta (https://www.covanta.com/where-we-are/our-facilities/lake)

[ton80]

As stated in the Title, in both incineration and burning trees, the products of combustion are exhausted to the atmosphere.

The main difference is that in an incinerator the combustion creates an exhaust stream at high temperature. The heat recovery process produces an energy stream that can generate electricity. There are some pollutants that are removed by scrubbers but essentially all of the other combustion products are exhausted to the atmosphere.

Not exactly correct.

Lake | Covanta (https://www.covanta.com/where-we-are/our-facilities/lake)

I am not sure what you are referring to when you say "not exactly correct". I addressed the products of combustion since Orange Blossom Baby stated that they were captured/reduced in the power generation equipment. This is not correct. The heat recovery only removes heat and turns it into steam which in turn powers a steam turbine to generate electric power. All of the combustion gases are then exhausted to the atmosphere at a lower temperature.
If you are referring to the removed non combusted solids, I did not refer to that. The non combusted materials, bottom ash, etc. from the incinerator are further processed in a separate group of equipment and some are recycled but nothing is removed in the power generation equipment other than some minor amounts of solids in the incinerator scrubber.

If I did not hit your point please tell me what was not correct. TIA

[checkup78]

I have livedin theVillages for 17years and honestly have no memory of having smoke or anything else in the air
With all the talk about saving our world from pollution, cars, etc. Why doesn't anyone stop all the burning? Seems like The Villages has some smoke daily.

[La lamy]

Agreed, I smell smoke on a daily basis. I feel it's neighbours who have an open pit fire. Really bad for the atmosphere, but especially for our lungs. Absolutely carcinogenic.Where I also live in Canada it's an illegal practice.

[Norge]

We’re we lived there was no burning aloud what so ever.I think TV controls it all,It would cost them more to either dump it in a land fill or rent or buy a large chipper and make mulch.

[frayedends]

Are we talking about burning yard waste or just having a fire pit for ambiance and smores? Do people really have a problem with a little fire pit smoke? I love the smell of wood smoke from a fireplace or pit.

[Normal]

Smoke is caused by any moisture contained in the burning wood. Imagine dry wood in central Florida. Is there any?

[sam&rog]

Could be a controlled burn to prevent major forest fires.









With all the talk about saving our world from pollution, cars, etc. Why doesn't anyone stop all the burning? Seems like The Villages has some smoke daily.

[coconutmama]

Are we talking about burning yard waste or just having a fire pit for ambiance and smores? Do people really have a problem with a little fire pit smoke? I love the smell of wood smoke from a fireplace or pit.

We have often had heavy smoke from land clearing traveling to our area. Less so now that the building has moved farther south. It is air pollution for sure. A wood chipper would be far better way for disposing of trees that builders can remove but we cannot. Big business rules. We do not.

An occasional fire pit here & there being used for an hour or two is no where near the same issue

[Justputt]

I assume we all know burning brush, trees, and such is natural, as are the byproducts. Long before humans, things burned until fuel ran out or the rains came. "Pollution"? Burning tires, plastics, chemicals, etc., that aren't naturally occurring and the byproducts is different. As long as I don't live near a long-term burn pit, idc. Brush burning of cleared land for building (i.e. one-off burns), shrug.

[Bay Kid]

This is controlled burning around The Villages, not a fire pit. When you are at Volusia you can see the burning in the distance. Some days The Villages is protected by the wind direction.

Why would they continue to push carbon emissions but allow this smoke that covers miles of pollution that effects hundreds of people? Seems very hypocritical.

[Normal]

Just wait till muck fire season rolls in. Mostly natural gas accumulation from decaying vegetation that burns underground caused by spontaneous combustion. Nothing man made, but don’t tell that to the extremists. They will just come around for another nutty idea.

[jimjamuser]

Since we’re burning trash for energy we should be doing the same with the removal of trees
Not sure what this post means, but trees are important for the environment, so I would NOT be in favor of tree removal in general. When necessary for building homes, I would then like to see trees planted - perhaps in golf courses.

[lpkruege1]

Agreed, I smell smoke on a daily basis. I feel it's neighbours who have an open pit fire. Really bad for the atmosphere, but especially for our lungs. Absolutely carcinogenic.Where I also live in Canada it's an illegal practice.

Wow, I didn't know it was illegal for fires in Canada. When will they all be arrested? In Wisconsin (Upper Midwest) this past spring and summer we had breathing problems and hazardous condition warnings from all the Canadian wildfires. If you walked outside, you could see the smoke, smell the smoke, and even taste the smoke from the fires. Yes the fires were caused by poor management like the California fires, but hey, a law is a law.

[JcHammer]

With all the talk about saving our world from pollution, cars, etc. Why doesn't anyone stop all the burning? Seems like The Villages has some smoke daily.

Unfortunately when you are in a continuous building phase such as the Villages has been for 40 years clearing land and burning brush and debris is just part of the process. I doubt any smoke you may see is from anyone's yard or personal property.
The relocation of families and people from other states to Florida looks like it too will not be slowing down either so better get use to a little smoke now and again.

[Joe C.]

Nothing smells as nice as a wood burning campfire. I heated with wood when I lived in Vermont, and from October to May, the smell of the smoke coming from the chimney was so enjoyable and relaxing.

[tophcfa]

I asked a landscaper taking down a neighbors tree, who took away several trailers full of debris, what he did with all the yard waste. He said he has a huge pit on his property where he discards everything. About once per week, when the pit gets full, he burns everything. Think about all the landscapers working throughout the villages every day trimming shrubs, trees, etc… That’s a lot of vegetation that goes up in smoke. Occasionally we get a very strong smell of thick smoke where we live, usually it starts a couple hours after dark. That corresponds to when the landscapers get home from work and empty their trailers of debris and have to burn to make room for the next day’s haul. There is no doubt the smoke we encounter is not from a neighbors small fire ring.

[Dusty_Star]

Agreed, I smell smoke on a daily basis. I feel it's neighbours who have an open pit fire. Really bad for the atmosphere, but especially for our lungs. Absolutely carcinogenic.Where I also live in Canada it's an illegal practice.

Canadian wildfires? Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/home)

[merrymini]

No doubt that the heavy smell of burning wood is coming from construction sites. I have seen these fires. Most of the time, they burn them at night so no one knows where they are coming from but I do not think it matters because I have seen them burning during the day too. Burning wood produces particle pollution, a mixture of gases and fine particles. Smoke may smell good but is not good for you. These particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, triggering asthma attacks. A risk for people who have copd and heart disease. Obviously, no one cares, after all, we are just a bunch of old people who are going to die anyway.

[jimjamuser]

Agreed, I smell smoke on a daily basis. I feel it's neighbours who have an open pit fire. Really bad for the atmosphere, but especially for our lungs. Absolutely carcinogenic.Where I also live in Canada it's an illegal practice.
That is a good law.

[jimjamuser]

Are we talking about burning yard waste or just having a fire pit for ambiance and smores? Do people really have a problem with a little fire pit smoke? I love the smell of wood smoke from a fireplace or pit.
Not everybody does because there are individual differences in tolerance for smoke.

[jimjamuser]

I assume we all know burning brush, trees, and such is natural, as are the byproducts. Long before humans, things burned until fuel ran out or the rains came. "Pollution"? Burning tires, plastics, chemicals, etc., that aren't naturally occurring and the byproducts is different. As long as I don't live near a long-term burn pit, idc. Brush burning of cleared land for building (i.e. one-off burns), shrug.
People have different tolerances for smoke.

[jimjamuser]

Nothing smells as nice as a wood burning campfire. I heated with wood when I lived in Vermont, and from October to May, the smell of the smoke coming from the chimney was so enjoyable and relaxing.
Enjoyable, relaxing, and who cares that it may be carcinogenic?

[jimjamuser]

Nothing smells as nice as a wood burning campfire. I heated with wood when I lived in Vermont, and from October to May, the smell of the smoke coming from the chimney was so enjoyable and relaxing.
Enjoyable, relaxing, and carcinogenic.

[frayedends]

Not everybody does because there are individual differences in tolerance for smoke.

Yeah I was just curious what the thread was about. Seems it's not about firepit/smoker issues. I'm guessing that all depends on the neighbors. I hope my neighbors like brisket and smoke because there will be 12 hours of smoke. :D

[jimjamuser]

No doubt that the heavy smell of burning wood is coming from construction sites. I have seen these fires. Most of the time, they burn them at night so no one knows where they are coming from but I do not think it matters because I have seen them burning during the day too. Burning wood produces particle pollution, a mixture of gases and fine particles. Smoke may smell good but is not good for you. These particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, triggering asthma attacks. A risk for people who have copd and heart disease. Obviously, no one cares, after all, we are just a bunch of old people who are going to die anyway.
Older people VOTE and have money, so maybe people would pay attention if we had an old people's union?

[jimjamuser]

Yeah I was just curious what the thread was about. Seems it's not about firepit/smoker issues. I'm guessing that all depends on the neighbors. I hope my neighbors like brisket and smoke because there will be 12 hours of smoke. :D
That's the spirit we like, one of compromise and neighborly love.

[coffeebean]

I have livedin theVillages for 17years and honestly have no memory of having smoke or anything else in the air

I've lived in The Villages for several years (not as long as you though) and have only smelled smoke in the air once which lasted a couple of hours.

[La lamy]

Wow, I didn't know it was illegal for fires in Canada. When will they all be arrested? In Wisconsin (Upper Midwest) this past spring and summer we had breathing problems and hazardous condition warnings from all the Canadian wildfires. If you walked outside, you could see the smoke, smell the smoke, and even taste the smoke from the fires. Yes the fires were caused by poor management like the California fires, but hey, a law is a law.

I knew someone would mention the forest fires. So you think those are legal? What does it have to do with what I said in my post? And surely you know US had MANY forest fires too this summer right? Or does your news only bitch about Canadian ones?

[La lamy]

I asked a landscaper taking down a neighbors tree, who took away several trailers full of debris, what he did with all the yard waste. He said he has a huge pit on his property where he discards everything. About once per week, when the pit gets full, he burns everything. Think about all the landscapers working throughout the villages every day trimming shrubs, trees, etc… That’s a lot of vegetation that goes up in smoke. Occasionally we get a very strong smell of thick smoke where we live, usually it starts a couple hours after dark. That corresponds to when the landscapers get home from work and empty their trailers of debris and have to burn to make room for the next day’s haul. There is no doubt the smoke we encounter is not from a neighbors small fire ring.
Wow, that explains it.

[photo1902]

I've lived in The Villages for several years (not as long as you though) and have only smelled smoke in the air once which lasted a couple of hours.

Correct. Much ado about nothing.

[GizmoWhiskers]

With all the talk about saving our world from pollution, cars, etc. Why doesn't anyone stop all the burning? Seems like The Villages has some smoke daily.
The Villages legally burns it all down!

I am assuming if you are smelling it, WELCOME to the "new center" of T V is in order.

[Byte1]

With all the talk about saving our world from pollution, cars, etc. Why doesn't anyone stop all the burning? Seems like The Villages has some smoke daily.

Try residing in New Delhi during the winter when the locals burn manure patties for heat and the smoke is so thick they often divert airline flights due to the dense smog. The smell is so bad that you can smell it inside the plane when landing, if they allow it to land. We've come a long way since car exhaust fumes used to cause nausea when traveling through our cities.

[bogmonster]

Chances are that one fire probably outs out much less carbon emissions than your idol Al Gore flying his private jet to a global warming convention or Greta’s private yacht delivering her to her next protest.

[Byte1]

Older people VOTE and have money, so maybe people would pay attention if we had an old people's union?

Yes, because "older people" are really concerned about a bit of wood smoke, and their healthy lifestyle. That's why there aren't any fast food restaurants in or near the Villages. Nope, none at all. C'mon people, you can't live forever no matter what you do to protect yourself. Isn't living to 100 enough to shoot for? I would rather enjoy the smell of burning wood than the smell of sewage from the nearby treatment site when the breeze shifts in my direction. But, even that is only an occasional occurrence. :mornincoffee:

[VApeople]

Why doesn't anyone stop all the burning? Seems like The Villages has some smoke daily.

Some cities do not allow burning but I think most counties do allow it in the rural areas.

When Obama was president, a preacher in Gainesville was upset with Islam and wanted to burn some Qurans. He tried it at his church in Gainesville but the police stopped him because that city did not allow open fires.

A few years later I wondered how it turned out so I did a Google search. It said the preacher went outside the city limits and burned a bunch of Qurans. The authorities didn't do anything, probably because our Supreme Court had decided it was a free speech issue.

It said he became an Uber driver in Sarasota.

[Chi-Town]

Some cities do not allow burning but I think most counties do allow it in the rural areas.

When Obama was president, a preacher in Gainesville was upset with Islam and wanted to burn some Qurans. He tried it at his church in Gainesville but the police stopped him because that city did not allow open fires.

A few years later I wondered how it turned out so I did a Google search. It said the preacher went outside the city limits and burned a bunch of Qurans. The authorities didn't do anything, probably because our Supreme Court had decided it was a free speech issue.

It said he became an Uber driver in Sarasota.

Quite a segue.

[JMintzer]

I knew someone would mention the forest fires. So you think those are legal? What does it have to do with what I said in my post? And surely you know US had MANY forest fires too this summer right? Or does your news only bitch about Canadian ones?

The Canadian wildfires earlier this year were MASSIVE and effected much of the eastern US, especially the northeast...

It was in all the papers...

[Gpsma]

Personally, i love the smell of napalm burning in the morning

[photo1902]

I knew someone would mention the forest fires. So you think those are legal? What does it have to do with what I said in my post? And surely you know US had MANY forest fires too this summer right? Or does your news only bitch about Canadian ones?

People in glass houses…

[Keefelane66]

Chances are that one fire probably outs out much less carbon emissions than your idol Al Gore flying his private jet to a global warming convention or Greta’s private yacht delivering her to her next protest.
“ Does Greta Thunberg have a yacht?
Thunberg sailed on board the Malizia II, a 18 m (60 ft) racing yacht that was built for round-the-world challenges. Solar panels and underwater turbines generate the power for lighting and communication.”

[JMintzer]

Personally, i love the smell of napalm burning in the morning

It smells like... Victory...

[MorTech]

I love the smell of diesel...It smells like human progress.

[Battlebasset]

I loved having a wood burning fire pit up north. I didn't use it much, however, due to the smoke it created prevented people from sitting around it, the wind blowing might spread it, and when you were done in the evening, you had to make sure it was totally out.

So switched to a propane fire pit, which is what I have here. Smoke smell doesn't bother me, but we are too close to each other in the event that it bothers my neighbors. However, my meat smoker hasn't seemed to bother anyone yet. In fact, I'm amazed at how much more I see them when I'm doing an all day smoke.

[Topspinmo]

Not sure what this post means, but trees are important for the environment, so I would NOT be in favor of tree removal in general. When necessary for building homes, I would then like to see trees planted - perhaps in golf courses.


Two things that will kill the planet, deforestation and over population. Millions of square miles have bee bulldozed to plant corn and soybeans. Millions more for overpopulated growth.:read:

[JMintzer]

Two things that will kill the planet, deforestation and over population. Millions of square miles have bee bulldozed to plant corn and soybeans. Millions more for overpopulated growth.:read:

Some interesting facts...

The US has been seeing a growth in forests over the last 25 years, at appox 0.3%/year...

Deforestation in the United States - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation_in_the_United_States)

[Bay Kid]

Two things that will kill the planet, deforestation and over population. Millions of square miles have bee bulldozed to plant corn and soybeans. Millions more for overpopulated growth.:read:

Now they are being used by solar panels. No more food.