Chapter 10 - Pollutants control strategies for modern waste incinerators: Status quo in China in the context of municipal solid waste classification

Abstract

China's rapid urbanization has generated unprecedented amounts of municipal solid waste (MSW), which shows no indications of halting. This unprecedented amount of MSW has resulted in the Chinese government exploring and optimizing MSW management through the development of new strategies for promoting a circular economy (CE). These strategies are comprised of frameworks that project a “carbon peak and neutrality” and “zero-waste cities” in China. MSW classification forms a critical component of MSW management in China and is a prerequisite for waste minimization and waste valorization for environmentally sound management. MSW that is not electronic is largely burned in incinerators after classification as a means of managing it, which causes air pollution. Current air pollution control devices are incapable of meeting increasingly rigorous emission requirements. As a result, “seeking greater synergy between curbing pollution and cutting carbon emissions” will become a significant obstacle. Therefore, proper MSW classification will assist the CE and in determining alternative pathways for reducing carbon emissions in China. Hence, this thesis will review three aspects of a noticeable transition in China's MSW management. That is China's MSW classification and incineration policy; the development of ultra-low emission technology to meet the revised China's national standard (GB 18485-2014), local standards (e.g., SZDB/Z 233-2017 in Shenzhen City and DB 46/484-2019 in Hainan Province); and the contribution of MSW classification into managing China's CE. This also includes an international comparison of waste recycling, in this review. The findings from this review will be beneficial to China's MSW classification and management of incinerator-generated air pollution.