Chapter 7 - Municipal solid waste to electricity development and future trend in China: a special life cycle assessment case study of Macau

Abstract

In order to alleviate the severe environmental pressure, municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration treatment is increasingly favored as an effective MSW treatment in China. This chapter summarizes the status of waste incineration power generation, policy support, and technology development in China and international society. In mainland China, there were about 311 waste incineration plants with an annual generating capacity of 40,960GWh in 2017. Currently, 95% of waste power plants in China use incineration technology. Due to the long operating hours, mature processing technology, and regional representation of the waste incineration plant in Macau, this chapter evaluates the current and potential patterns of MSW management (especially the incineration technology in Macau), using the life cycle assessment method. It shows that the existing MSW management system in Macau can handle urban domestic waste well and can generate some environmental benefits. Scenario 4 (source separation and incineration) and Scenario 5 (integrated waste management) can increase environmental benefits compared to current MSW management (incineration) systems. If considering the limited financial resources and the current waste management practices in Macau, Scenario 4 would be the preferred choice.