Municipal Solid Waste Processing Research Articles

Scientific and legal aspects setting norms in the area of generation and processing of municipal solid waste

The current situation in Russia concerning generation and disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) is characterized by significant environmental pollution, irrational use of natural resources and, as a result, significant economic damage. Measures taken at the federal and regional levels is focused on achieving optimal efficiency in waste management. However, an increasing financial burden on legal entities due to higher standards of MSW formation may lead to negative trends in economic development caused by lower competitiveness of enterprises, worsened investment climate and business activity. The study is aimed to assess regulating processes of municipal waste management in connection with the development of an effective system of recycling and reuse of MSW.

Modern Technologies for the Thermal Treatment of Municipal Solid Waste, and Prospects for Their Implementation in Russia (Review)

The data on the state-of-the-art of the thermal processing of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the United States, China, Europe, and other countries are presented. The analysis of technologies for MSW incineration in layered furnaces using fire-grates and fluidized-bed furnaces, as well as using gasification and pyrolysis, is performed. It is shown that the best technology for the energy-producing MSW utilization consists in MSW incineration in layered furnaces with the use of mechanical shearing fire-grates. It is noted that, since all the enterprises for the energy-producing MSW utilization (in fact, these are TPPs, whose main fuel is municipal solid waste) are currently equipped with multistage gas purification facilities, the problems of their environmentally safe operation are completely solved. Therefore, research is mainly aimed at improving the energy efficiency of these enterprises, including through the integration of the units for MSW incineration into the thermal circuit of a TPP operating based on fossil fuel. Examples are given of foreign operating installations for the energy-producing MSW utilization with an electrical efficiency of 27–31% as well as those operating in a heating cycle with a high energy efficiency. The state-of-the-art of MSW thermal processing and the prospects for the implementation of modern technologies for the energy-producing MSW utilization in Russia are presented. Despite the fact that there is no sufficient experience in this field in Russia (only three plants have been constructed in Moscow, whose installed electric operating capacity does not exceed 12 MW), it is planned to construct four relatively large thermal power plants in Moscow oblast with an electric operating capacity of 70 MW each, in order to incinerate 700 000 t of solid waste per year. A TPP with the energy-producing utilization of 360 000 t of MSW per year with an installed electric operating capacity of 24 MW is the most promising for Russia. Such a TPP could already be in demand in more than two dozen large Russian cities.

ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКОЕ ОБОРУДОВАНИЕ ПРИ ОБРАБОТКЕ ТВЕРДЫХ КОММУНАЛЬНЫХ ОТХОДОВ

In various regions of Russia, there is some sort of crisis in the handling of municipal solid waste. The National Project "Ecology" is aimed at solving this problem, as well as the federal projects "Integrated system of solid municipal waste management" and "Implementation of the best available technologies". However, in the processing and disposal of waste, the problems of preserving the environment (ecology) often come into conflict with the financial component of the development of the industry (economy). The aim of the study is to determine the integrated environmental and economic efficiency of waste management at the regional level. The study considers the scheme of the technological process for the processing of municipal solid waste and assesses the efficiency of replacing the technological equipment at the "EcoResourcePovolzhie" enterprise based in the city of Togliatti. The authors suggest modernization of separation technology to improve the efficiency of waste processing. With the replacement of the existing separators with drum separators, screens RMZ TR-4500, the efficiency coefficients of the sorting and extraction process, the percentage of selection of secondary raw materials, increase. The costs of replacing drum separators were determined, the economic effect and payback period of the proposed modernization were calculated, as well as the environmental effect of reducing the flow of waste to the landfill, extending the life of the landfill, reducing the risk of the release of hazardous components into the air in the event of fire at the landfill, soil pollution and aquatic environment, as well as reducing disposal costs.

Evaluation of the bio-drying process of municipal solid waste using rotating drums Bio-drying rotary drum.

Most of the municipal solid waste collected is disposed of in landfills and controlled landfills. However, efficient ways of recovering these wastes have emerged, such as bio-drying. This technique uses the exothermic degradation reaction of organic matter carried out by microorganisms along with aeration to reduce the moisture of the waste. The objective of the research was to test the bio-drying technique in a rotary drum. For this purpose, three rotary drums were built, and the tested residue was synthetically produced. The aeration rate tested was 1 liter per kilogram per minute, and rotation was performed for one minute every three hours. The analyses performed on the residues were moisture content, volatile solids, calorific value, particle size, and temperature profile. The residues entered the bio-drying process with a moisture content of 52%, 49%, and 54% and went out with 15%, 13%, and 10% for drum 1, 2, and 3, respectively, a reduction of more than 70%. The calorific value increased by 95%, 88%, and 122% for drum 1, 2, and 3, respectively. During the process, no leachate generation was observed.

Formation of soot in the disposal of municipal solid waste

In power plants intended for the disposal of solid household waste, the processes take place at a high temperature. For such installations, nonequilibrium processes are characteristic of a change in the composition of combustion products caused by the final rates of the ongoing chemical reactions. This affects the basic characteristics of the combustion process of municipal solid waste. A mathematical model has been created for calculating the chemically nonequilibrium composition of the fuel. Solid household and industrial waste is a high-energy fuel. It is a high energy fuel. The process of thermal neutralization of solid household waste is considered. An alternative calculation method is presented that allows one to find the composition of combustion products under conditions of nonequilibrium in the process of thermal utilization of solid domestic waste. The data on the composition and properties of solid household waste obtained by the developed method of calculation allow predicting the yield of super Eco toxicants in combustion products. On the basis of the equations of formal chemical kinetics, an alternative was created, which consists in determining the composition of combustion products taking into account the kinetics of chemical reactions. The assumption is introduced that transformations in the gas phase are elementary, one-stage. Various chemical interactions can be represented by a set of elementary stages. The most probable are mono-, biand three molecular chemical reactions. The method allows predicting the yield of Eco toxicants by finding the composition of the fuel combustion products prior to its utilization.

Planning organization of facilities for the municipal solid waste processing for use in the structure of small cities of Russia

The range of problems, related to the environmentally dangerous accumulation of solid domestic waste (SDW) in Russian cities and settlements and the lack of effective ways of handling them, has been analyzed. The importance of this problem is substantiated for the difficult location conditions of geographically remote small towns and settlements of Russia, where the rational solution for solid waste collection conditions, transportation and processing still has not been found. The planning organization concept for small cities with the inclusion in their structure a modern system of objects for processing solid waste is proposed. A new methodological approach to the formation of functionally completed and environmentally friendly small residential agglomerations in the Russian regions is substantiated. The proposed methodology is focused on the use of advanced native technologies, using domestic waste as a renewable source of fuel for the production of electric and thermal energy. The new methodological approach is based on the complete exclusion of domestic waste landfill disposal in small towns in Russia and provides an effective scheme for waste collecting, advance preparation and container delivery for it complex processing with extensive use of the local railway transport network. The results of the study allow us to identify new directions in the field of small towns design and development in Russia, in relation to the requirements of a sustainable ecological environment ensuring.

Возможности индустриального решения вопроса селекции и переработки коммунальных отходов

The results of the author's analysis of the problems of selective collection and processing as secondary particularly valuable and environmentally limited types of municipal solid waste (MSW): batteries, polymer materials and glass, are presented. The urgency of these problems is determined by the proclamation of the "garbage reform" in our country in connection with the large accumulation of MSW - up to 65 million per year with 5% recycling. Abroad, the practice of MSW processing with the burial and incineration of only their residual part, which cannot be disposed of, has been es-tablished. The prospects of recycling the considered types of MSW as recyclable materials are shown, including the data on mer-cury lamps, electroplated sludge and effluents, silt sludge from treatment facilities, published earlier in the materials of the Institute of Social, Economic and Energy Problems of the North, Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch, RAS (2018). The effectiveness of this direction in MSW management is ensured by obtaining highly liquid products while reducing negative environmental impacts on the environment by removing particularly dangerous components from the composition of stored MSW. Currently, the implementation of the "garbage reform" is to create a system of "Regional Operators" for the removal and handling of MSW, payment for these services by the population and design the construction of modern waste processing plants in the Moscow region and Tatarstan. The profitability of the garbage business, with limited possibilities for Russian regions to create a sustainable infrastructure for its technological implementation, without state co-financing, can make the process of self-organization, that has begun, unmanageable. The growth of income from the removal of MSW in the absence of processing facilities provokes their disposal in new places, remote from Moscow and St. Petersburg. From these positions, it is recommended to organize network Regional Innovation and Consulting Centers (RICC) responsible for environmental awareness, education and environmental and technological control under the auspices of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Consumer Supervision). From these positions, the "garbage reform" should be considered as the creation of a new industrial sector for the processing of secondary raw materials (recycling).

Physical properties of ceramic material obtained using the carbon residue of municipal solid waste pyrolysis

The main tendency to solve the problem of municipal solid waste in the Russian Federation is the transition from landfill to industrial processing. A promising option is the pyrolysis of solid carbon-containing waste, which allows not only to significantly reduce the amount of waste, but also to obtain alternative types of energy.The use of products of the pyrolysis processing of municipal solid waste in the technology for the production of ceramic materials is proposed.A new ceramic material was obtained in which the solid pyrolysis residue of a mixture of MSW of medium morphological composition was used as a structure-forming additive. The following were experimentally determined: chemical composition of the material, water absorption, mechanical strength, density, heat conductivity, heat capacity. It is recommended to use modified ceramics in the production technology of building products for various purposes.

Choosing a solid municipal waste management strategy to address the challenges of recycling

Global environmental problems all over the world are extremely acute, they are associated with the constantly growing man-made impact of man on the environment. Extraction and processing of resources affect production processes, the natural environment, and public health. This is especially true of waste generated in the production and consumption process, which cannot be used for further use due to technical or economic reasons. Despite the fact that municipal solid waste (MSW) constitutes less than 1 % of the total amount of industrial and domestic waste generated, it is the most annoying factor for the population, especially in large cities and adjacent areas. The basis of the strategy is the separate collection of waste by the population, the “sorting depth” depends on the current policy in this area: from 4–5 types of MSW in a number of European countries, to 40 in some regions of Japan. The subject of the research is the solid waste management system. The purpose of the article is to study the waste management system in the world and in Russia, analyze the current situation and choose a management strategy to solve the problem of waste disposal. Research methodology: financial and economic analysis. The article presents analytical data on the formation and disposal of electronic and plastic MSW, which have a clear tendency to significant growth, leading to an increase in incineration and disposal. Global problems are also relevant for Russia, where the level of MSW processing is not high and so far there are about ten incineration plants (WIPs) with low productivity. For comparison, the number of incinerators: in Switzerland – 29, in Japan – 1900, in Sweden – 21, in Denmark – 32, the total number of inhabitants in these countries is less than the population of Russia. New factories are expensive both during construction and operation. The article provides an assessment of the economic consequences of switching to MSW processing by incineration at an incineration plant, provides a financial and economic model of the project. Analysis of foreign experience made it possible to understand the causes of the problems and develop recommendations. This article is part of the author’s research in the field of choosing optimal strategies for managing the disposal of solid municipal waste, based on the collected material, it is planned to publish a monograph.

Use of Incinerator Bottom Ash as a Recycled Aggregate in Contact with Nonwoven Geotextiles: Evaluation of Mechanical Damage Upon Installation

The recycling and reuse of materials is crucial to reducing the amount of generated waste and the exploitation of natural resources, contributing to achieving environmental sustainability. During the incineration process of municipal solid waste, a residue known as incinerator bottom ash is generated in considerable amounts, being important the development of solutions for its valorization. In this work, three nonwoven geotextiles were submitted to mechanical damage under repeated loading tests with incinerator bottom ash and, for comparison purposes, with three natural aggregates (sand 0/4, gravel 4/8 and tout-venant) and a standard aggregate (corundum). Damage assessment was carried out by monitoring the changes that occurred in the short-term tensile and puncture behaviors of the geotextiles. Results showed that the damage induced by incinerator bottom ash on the short-term mechanical behavior of the geotextiles tended to be lower than the damage induced by the natural aggregates or by the standard aggregate. Therefore, concerning the mechanical damage caused on geotextiles, there are good prospects for the use of incinerator bottom ash as a filling material in contact with those construction materials, thereby promoting its valorization.

Classification and solid municipal waste unauthorized landfills reclamation methods

Due to the rapid production volume and consumption increase, the disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) problems appeared. In Russian Federation stocktaking municipal solid waste accumulation objects close municipal waste landfills, building incineration and waste processing plants become a hot-button issue, which is one of the significant points in a national program «Ecology». Already formed illegal MSW landfills recultivation problem as well attracts wide attention. Nowadays, a recultivation system takes a long time for reclamation method choice, finding the contractor to perform this type of work. In this time, pollutants penetrate deep into the soil and pollute underground water horizons harming the population health as a result. It is proposed to adopt new definitions of the unauthorized landfill, cluster garbage, and focal Cluster garbage at the Federal level to simplify the system. And also divide those responsible for carrying out measures for liquidation and/or reclamation at the Federal, regional and local levels by category. The necessary recultivation method should be selected based on these results. This unauthorized dumping ground separation method can simplify the existing reclamation system in use, approval of technical tasks for remediation. Furthermore, the proposed classification does not require huge financial investments and save time when conducting procurement procedures. The work was carried out with the support of the center for collective use of the Saint Petersburg Mining University.

WORLD PRACTICE OF USING BIOGAS AS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The article evaluates the biogas as the alternative energy source useful for contributing to the future. Biogas has been found to offer one of the best alternatives due to its economic significance as well as the improved sustainable development through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The work investigates the production of biogas as an alternative source of energy while outlining its significance in reducing the issues of power energy as well as environmental pollution. The authors analysed the level of bioenergy development in Kazakhstan and around the globe. They revealed that Brazil, China, USA, India and Germany are leaders of bioenergy production in the world. According to the authors, development of bioenergy in Kazakhstan is related to commissioning of new bioenergy stations and supporting sources of renewable energy by government mechanisms. In the case of Kazakhstan, the authors highlighted the fact that existing biogas plants are only used for processing municipal solid waste in urban landfills despite being a major producer of agricultural products.Keywords: Alternative Energy Source, Bioenergy, Green EconomicsJEL Classifications: Q42, Q50DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.9805

Bioconversion of municipal solid waste into bio-based products: A review on valorisation and sustainable approach for circular bioeconomy

Municipal solid waste management is one of the major issues throughout the world. Inappropriate management of municipal solid waste (MSW) can pose a major hazard. Anaerobic processing of MSW followed by methane and biogas generation is one of the numerous sustainable energy source options. Compared with other technologies applicable for the treatment of MSW, factors like economic aspects, energy savings, and ecological advantages make anaerobic processing an attractive choice. This review discusses the framework for evaluating conversion of municipal solid waste to energy and waste derived bioeconomy in order to address the sustainable development goals. Further, this review will provide an innovative work foundation to improve the accuracy of structuring, quality control, and pre-treatment for the ideal treatment of different segments of MSW to achieve a sustainable circular bioeconomy. The increasing advancements in three essential conversion pathways, in particular the thermochemical, biochemical, and physiochemical conversion methods, are assessed. Generation of wastes should be limited and resource utilization must be minimised to make total progress in a circular bioeconomy.

INVESTIGATION OF MORPHOLOGICAL COMPOSITION AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE RECYCLING METHODS IN UZBEKISTAN

This article deals with the problem of Municipal solid waste (MSW) in the Republic of Uzbekistan. In the process of research, the methods for the disposal of MSW that are still used in the country, such as incineration and disposal at landfills, were examined. For the necessity to implement innovations in the work of handling MSW, the basic morphological composition of MSW in the winter, spring, summer and autumn seasonal periods was researched. Based on the results obtained, an innovative direction is proposed for the processing of MSW into secondary raw materials in order to solve the problems of resource savings and jointly with the solution of environmental and economic problems of the republic. To solve the problem of waste management, an innovative technology has been proposed for the transition from landfills to waste recycling plants.

Determination of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols in municipal solid-waste processing facilities of Tehran.

The concentration and distribution characteristics of airborne bacteria and fungi were assessed at municipal solid-waste processing and disposal facilities (SWPDFs) of Tehran (Arad Kouh Site). Air samples were obtained from the indoor air of a laboratory and refectory as well as from the air surrounding a conveyor belt, rotary screen, and bailer. Sampling was conducted according to the standard procedure to determine two bacterial species (Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus), total bacteria and fungi, and Aspergillus fumigates. The maximum concentration of Staphylococcus aureus was in the air surrounding the conveyer belt with the average of 993.2CFU/m3. The highest concentrations of total fungi (4958.8CFU/m3) and Aspergillus fumigates (2114CFU/m3) were measured in the air surrounding the rotary screen. The mean concentrations of bacterial bioaerosols in a more contaminated sampling location in summer and winter were 1687.6 and 1479.4CFU/m3, respectively. There were significant differences between the concentration of bioaerosols in cold and warm seasons. The concentrations of bioaerosols in the air surrounding the rotary screen and conveyer belt were significantly more than those in other sampling locations, but were within the recommended maximum of 103 and 104 CFU/m3.

Определение теплофизических свойств керамики с добавкой пиролизного остатка твердых отходов

A promising environmentally friendly method for processing municipal solid waste is pyrolysis. Pyrolysis allows obtaining a combination of solid, liquid and gaseous products in various proportions due to changes in process parameters. A promising area for the use of solid pyrolysis products is the production of various materials for industrial, civil and road construction. There are some known methods for producing cement, concrete and foam glass with improved properties on pyrolysis basis. In modern building technologies, ceramic materials are widely used. Their production requires various expensive additives such as quartz sand, dolomite, coal, coal mining rocks, etc. Thus, it seems relevant to use the residue of the pyrolysis of municipal solid waste as a free of charge structure-forming additive for the production of ceramic material. To determine the scope of the material application and to perform subsequent thermotechnical calculations, the data on its thermophysical characteristics is required. To determine the thermophysical characteristics of the ceramic material, the experimental method of the cylindrical layer and the calculation-experimental method of inverse heat conduction problem are used. The experimental studies of thermophysical properties of the new ceramic material have allowed obtaining the dependence of the average specific heat capacity and thermal diffusivity of the ceramic material on temperatures in the range of 30–90 оС, and the coefficient of thermal conductivity on the temperatures in the range of 30–500 оС. These characteristics enable to perform calculations of thermal processes that occur in the material during its industrial use. The coefficient of thermal conductivity of the material varies from 0,3 to 0,65 W/m×K, thermal diffusivity varies within (1,8–2,3)×10–7 m2/s, and the average specific heat capacity changes from 780 to 1300 J/kg×K, which is comparable with the thermophysical characteristics of known ceramic materials. It is advisable to use the pyrolysis residue of municipal solid waste as a free raw material instead of expensive additives to obtain ceramic material. It is recommended to use the new ceramic material in the production technology of building products for various purposes.

Modeling the stress-strain state of of a municipal solid waste landfill

Introduction. The process of municipal solid waste (further MSW) generation is inextricably linked with the life of humanity. Every day each person generates some, a small amount of garbage. As a result millions of tons of MSW are generated daily in the world which are unsuitable for further use and require disposal. There are various ways of handling MSW including their treatment, recycling and disposal. In Russian Federation the vast majority of MSW are currently located on the specially equipped facilities –– waste landfills. To date the most common waste management strategy remains their placement in a landfill. Waste landfills are arrays of stored waste and are special engineering structures designed for the safe isolation of their contents from the environment. Landfill includes gas exhaust and leachate drainage systems, liner and cover systems. The main component of this structure is waste itself. Mechanical stability of landfills should be provided at all stages of waste storage as well as after it complete filling to designed capacity and at post-closure stage. As the result of deformation of unstable waste, all landfill systems can be destroyed up to the collapse of garbage array leading to the significant environmental and other consequences. One of the most common problems leading to the various incidents at landfills is an incorrect assessment of their stability. MSW landfill is a complex multiphase system in which various interacting processes occur simultaneously. The main factor in the calculation and design of landfills is the forecast of their settlements. Studies by many authors have established that biological decomposition has a significant impact on the properties of MSW after which the waste is considered as the landfill soil with a particle size of up to 20 mm. Materials and methods. The paper presents the methodology and the results of numerical modeling of stress-strain state of the designed object “Waste Landfill”. The facility is an array of municipal solid waste of 38 meters high. Waste is stacked in the layers of 1.75 m thick. Each waste layer is covered by the loam cover of 0.25 m thick. Stress-strain state of municipal solid waste including biological creep was modelled using well-known “Soft-Soil-Creep model” (SSC-model). Results. The results of numerical simulation of stress-strain state of the waste pile at all stages of the filling and in the post-closure period are presented. An assessment of the increase in the capacity of the landfill due to the compaction and biological creep has been performed. Stability analysis of the landfill and potential failure mechanisms at different stages of filling and operation are presented. Conclusions. Numerical modeling of stress-strain state of the MSW array using the “Soft-Soil-Creep model” allows to analyze the stability of the waste pile at any stage of landfill filling and evaluate the increase in landfill capacity due to the waste settlement taking into account the mechanical creep and biocompression during layer-by-layer filling.

Particle size analysis of municipal solid waste for treatment process modeling.

Several unit operations used in municipal solid waste (MSW) processing facilities are based on physical properties of the waste materials, such as particle size, density and shape. Reliable expressions describing particle size distribution (PSD) of the different waste components present in MSW are not readily available in the context of process modeling. In this study, the characterization data for household wastes and construction and demolition (C&D) wastes were analysed with the purpose of selecting the most representative PSD expression for these waste streams. The Rosin-Rammler distribution was identified over the log-normal and the gamma distributions as the best-fitting PSD for the waste samples. This was demonstrated for both raw and processed waste samples. Parameters were derived and validated for every category of MSW materials considered in the characterization. A model for mixed household waste PSD was developed based on the summation of Rosin-Rammler expressions corresponding to each category of waste materials, as the composition was determined to be the main factor influencing particle size. A simplified model was also derived for mixed waste as a bimodal distribution since two main modes were observed in household waste - one for the "organic" fraction and one for the "inorganic" fraction.

Improving Environmental Legislation in Central Asia: Current Trends and Features of Cooperation with the European Union

The article describes the results of a study of environmental problems that intensely limit socioeconomic development in Central Asia. The authors analyse the current environmental problems as follows. The loss of biodiversity and the complexity of the network of protected natural areas. Insufficient level of municipal solid waste processing, energy efficiency problems, in particular, the deterioration of the energy system. There are as well the imbalance between hydropower, irrigated agriculture and the environment, problems of the Aral Sea. The article proposes solution methods, including amendments to the legislation, i.e. the adoption of managerial decisions, as well as strengthening judicial control over compliance with the law. Gaps in the legislative regulation of environmental safety are examined. Along with policies at the national, regional and international levels. As well as future trends in the distribution of global resources that will be effective in protecting the environment, including the activities of The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (hereinafter – CAREC). The article analyses the basic environmental rights of citizens as well as cases and consequences of violation of such rights.

Life Cycle Assessment of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management: Case Study Area Around Cement Industry, Cirebon, Indonesia

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a useful tool to evaluate the environmental impact of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) processing. Here, a BUMDES (village owned enterprise) converted MSW to Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in the area around a cement plant in Cirebon, Indonesia. The RDF that is produced is used as a partial substitutiton fuels for the kiln in the cement industry. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the environmental impacts of RDF production through an attributional LCA study. The results were compared with the current practice of MSW treatment system. The waste management system that will be compared includes RDF and direct combustion. LCA simulation was conducted in the OpenLCA software, which is equipped with ecoinvent database as well as primary data from the field. The company treated about 2, 259.96 kg of waste / day. The results showed that the production rate of RDF is about 966 kg / day. The analysis shows that the conversion of combustible municipal solid waste into RDF is more environmentally friendly than direct combustion with environmental impacts as follows: GWP 8.40E-01 kg CO2 eq., Acidification 4.36E-04 kg SO2 eq., Eutrophication 7.18E-04 kg PO4 eq., ODP 3.59E-09 kg CFC-11 eq., And Human toxicity 2.27E-01 kg 1.4 dichlorobenzene eq. The use of RDF as a substitute fuel for the cement industry is economically advantageous if: there are no restrictions on processed waste, the RDF product sales to the cement industry is ensured, and the RDF product price should be economically viable. The initial investment costs and high operating as well as the maintenance costs could be a challenging issue when dealing with MSW processing to RDF.