Abstract
In this study, to determine the biomass fraction to apply to the estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the waste incineration sector, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and sewage sludge incineration facilities were selected and analyzed, and the biomass fractions found in these facilities were compared. The biomass fractions of Municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and sewage sludge in incineration facilities were shown to be 57%, 41%, and 78%, on average, respectively. In the case of municipal solid waste and industrial waste incineration facilities, the values were similar to those of previous studies. However, the biomass fraction of wastes and sewage sludge except for municipal solid waste was found to be significantly different from the IPCC default. Accordingly, we believe that the biomass fractions used to estimate the GHG emissions of different incineration facilities should reflect the characteristics of each waste type. At present, the basic value given by the IPCC for biomass fraction is used in Korea to estimate the GHG emissions of each waste incineration facility. Some studies have found a difference between the value obtained using the basic value given by the IPCC and the value obtained using values that reflect the characteristics of Korea. In common with previous studies, in this study the biomass fraction of waste incineration facilities and sewage sludge incineration facilities except for municipal solid wastes showed a large difference, which is also expected to affect the estimation of GHG emissions. If further studies collect additional data on the biomass fraction of each waste type, this study along with the additional data collected will assist in the development of a state level greenhouse gas emission factor and contribute to the improvement of the reliability of the national GHG inventory.
Highlights
Incineration is a widely used waste treatment method
Though national emission factors are being developed for some of the parameters used to estimate greenhouse gas in Korea’s waste sector, many emission factors have not yet been developed and the basic values given by the IPCC are used instead
This study looked into the biomass fraction used to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions from the waste incineration sector and estimated and compared the biomass fractions of each type of waste incinerated in Korea
Summary
Incineration is a widely used waste treatment method. It is popular because it uses less space than waste reclamation, it is hygienic, and the incineration heat can be used as an energy source [1]. While waste reclamation has been the most common waste treatment method in Korea since 2007, its use has been gradually decreasing while the use of incineration has been gradually increasing [2]. Greenhouse gas emissions from the incineration sector are gradually increasing and account for the largest share of the waste sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, reaching 7.4 million tCO2eq in. Efforts must be made to improve the reliability of the greenhouse gas inventory for the incineration sector in relation to the fulfillment inspection discussed in the Paris Agreement. CO2 emissions from biomass are to be reported separately from overall CO2 emissions from the incineration sector [4]
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