Evaluating greenhouse gas emissions and energy recovery from municipal and industrial solid waste using waste-to-energy technology

Abstract

In recent years, considerable efforts have been devoted to developing waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies that can reduce the volume of waste and mitigate its negative effects on the environment. Waste is usually classified as municipal solid waste (MSW) or industrial solid waste (ISW). Both types (without hazards) can be treated by WTE technology, and both offer high potential rates of energy recovery. In Taiwan, five categories of general ISW—wood, cooking oil, plastic, lubricants, and rubber—are routinely recycled as auxiliary fuels in WTE plants. This study examined the potential for energy recovery and the extent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from MSW and general ISW to evaluate the environmental performance of WTE technology using data normalization. Totals of 7,394.13×109 kWh/y and 340.15×109 kWh/y were recovered from incinerating MSW and general ISW, respectively, from 2014 to 2015. For MSW, the incineration of plastic waste produced the most GHGs (874.66 Gg CO2-eq/y), followed by paper waste (53.92 Gg CO2-eq/y) and textile waste (12.61 Gg CO2-eq/y). Of the various types of general ISW, rubber waste had the highest potential to emit GHGs (11.42 Gg CO2-eq/y). The incineration of MSW made a far greater contribution to total GHG emissions than did that of general ISW. Plastic MSW had the greatest environmental impact, and it should thus be treated carefully due to its greater potential for GHG emissions. The WTE technology has shown to improve waste management to treat both MSW and general ISW in Taiwan. These findings may be extrapolated for use in other countries.