By RUSS OLIVO

WOONSOCKET — The Synagro sludge incinerator on Cumberland Hill Road is shutting down today while it performs routine maintenance and makes some upgrades to its state-of-the-art “fluidized bed” core — work expected to last about a week.

“As part of its ongoing effort to continue optimizing the latest technologies to minimize odors and maintain efficiencies, Synagro Technologies, Inc., will be shutting down its fluidized bed incinerator in Woonsocket for one week,” the company said in a statement.
Dyana Koelsch, a spokeswoman for the company, said the city-generated biosolids that usually flow into Synagro through the wastewater collection system — and those trucked in from dozens of surrounding communities — will all be trucked away to be treated at other Synagro facilities while the work continues. The plant is expected to resume normal operations after the work is completed on April 3.
Synagro has often been a source of odor complaints from the surrounding neighborhood, but Koelsch said the temporary change in operations would not result in an increase in odors emanating from the facility.
Synagro installed the high-tech fluidized bed system to replace its “multiple hearth” technology about two years ago. Koelsch said the new system went on line in May 2007 and has been operating ‘round the clock, seven days a week, ever since.
The fluidized bed incinerator is basically a matrix of sand-like, granular material that is mixed with biosolids and heated to some 1,400 degrees to neutralize harmful bacteria and other environmental toxins.
The idling of the plant is an opportunity for Synagro to ensure the system is working at peak efficiency and to install some new components that have become available since it became operational, said David Abbamonte, plant manager.
“While this shutdown is routine, it is also an opportunity for us to check out operational systems, inspect all equipment and components and implement additional upgrades that will ensure we continue to be a good corporate neighbor,” Abbamonte said.
Based in Houston, Synagro bills itself as the fastest-growing company in the nation focused on the “organic residuals management” industry. The publicly traded company aims to be a major player in the field of wastewater privatization services to municipalities throughout North America.