The South Bay Incinerator is situated on a 5-acre (20,000 m2) lot, was sold to the Boston public works in an auction in late 1950s.[1] The building—241 feet (73 m) in width and 200 feet (61 m) in length, with three chimneys—was built between December 1956 and January 1958, and costed $6,500,000. Opened in 1960, it could destroy 600–900 tons of waste per day (225,000 pounds per hour),[2] between six furnaces,[2] a capability it failed to reach, due to being operated by inexperienced workers.[3] It shrunk the weight and height of waste by 75% and 90%, respectively, which is typical of an incinerator of its type. The steam produced by it was recycled; it heated the Boston City Hospital and was turned to electricity by the Boston Edison Power Station, as well as itself creating hot water as it incinerated.[3]
The furnaces of the South Bay Incinerator—known as "single charges", which were fueled by oil—caused 42% of its waste to combust and send smoke through its three chimneys;[2] it failed to meet regulations by the 1970s, and at some point, was declared a Superfund by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.[4] It closed on August 1, 1975, by order of a Suffolk County judge.[3] The building was demolished in 1997, following advocation from locals.[5]
