Abstract
This paper examines energy efficiency across 28 selected European Union (EU) Member States and reviews the potential for energy recovery from waste according to the efficiency scores obtained. The efficiencies are assessed through data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the following variables are used, inputs: final energy consumption, labour, capital, population density and outputs: gross domestic product (GDP), nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the years 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. Results show that most countries maintain their efficiency scores with only a few marginally improving theirs and at the same time, it is noticed that most are decreasing after 2012. Based on these efficiency scores, this paper recommends moving towards waste-to-energy with two main objectives, namely sufficient and sustainable energy production and effective treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW). This option would enhance the circular economy, whereas prioritization needs to be given to prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling and energy recovery through to disposal. Together with the EU Commission’s competition strategy, these options would ensure reliable energy supplies at rational prices and with the least environmental impacts. Moreover the efficiency scores need to be examined along the financial crisis which has been affecting the EU since 2008, showing a decrease in those efficiency scores after 2012 under a more imminent crisis.
Highlights
One of the major challenges of the 21st century is the continuous increase of municipal solid waste (MSW) production as well as its management
This study aims to provide European Union (EU) energy efficiency levels that could act as an incentive to move more towards energy recovery from waste and realise a circular economy in full
It can be noticed that most countries have higher environmental efficiency scores over 2010 and 2012 with a decrease after that
Summary
One of the major challenges of the 21st century is the continuous increase of municipal solid waste (MSW) production as well as its management. The main treatment options for MSW include, among others, landfill, incineration, recycling and composting. Both developed and developing countries have been dealing with the issue of sustainable waste management and are investigating ways to meet national and international standards in order to reduce their overall environmental impact. The main issues that have been pestering developed countries are potential ways to decrease the amount of waste going to landfill and increase the recycling and recovery of materials. The burning of waste for recovering energy is called incineration and it. The burning of waste for recovering energy is called incineration and it happens under a high temperature, it is called thermal treatment [17]. MSW can act source of energy through waste incineration; for instance in Denmark waste incineration covers asapproximately a source of energy through waste incineration; in heating
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