The US EPA is proposing new rules to reduce emissions of air pollutants from the last remaining category of waste incinerators requiring Clean Air Act regulation. This final category is called other solid waste incinerators (OSWI).

OSWI consist of institutional waste incinerators and very small municipal waste combustors. Institutional waste incinerators can be located in schools, churches, and local, state or federal buildings that burn waste generated on site. Very small municipal waste combustors burn less than 35 tons per day of municipal solid waste.

EPA has already issued regulations to control emissions from large municipal waste combustors (greater than 250 tons per day capacity); small municipal waste combustors (250 - 35 tons per day capacity); medical waste incinerators; and commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators.

The new proposed rules will provide important improvements in protecting human health and the environment by reducing pollutant emissions of almost 2,800 tons per year when fully implemented