Mechanical-Biological Treatment : A must for future upgrading technologies

Arthur Wellinger Task Leader Task 37

What is MBT ?

• Mechanical-Biological-Treatment (MBT) processes household waste by mechanically separating some parts of the waste and biologically treating others

• MBT is a very flexible tool but seldom a stand-alone technology

• MBT is a well established waste upgrading technology in most parts of Europe

1 The two basic functions

• M(echanical treatment) refers to sorting, size reduction, separation and sieving technologies achieving separation of potentially useful products and streams for biological treatments

• B(iological treatment) refers to anaerobic and/or aerobic or processes which convert the organic fraction into a -like material and biogas

What are the goals of MBT ?

• Help to meet diversion targets • Boost performance • Reduce the need for • Improve product quality • Avoid source separation • Minimise waste processing cost • Reduce implementation time (less public concern)

Yes, but not everything at the same time

2 What type of waste is MBT suited ?

Entire MSW: Black bag • Key role plays the mechanical part. It has to be robust and flexible • Hand sorting has often to be included • M is to prepare input to B rather than recycling Source separated residual waste: Grey bag • Lower quantities of waste for M treatment • Less sophisticated M (shredding, sorting, etc.)

The most widespread options for MBT

Make energy & Mechanical AD Aerobic landfill treatment MSW

Dry RDF I Biogas Landfill recyclables

Produce Biogas Mechanical & soil improver treatment AD Aerobic MSW

Dry Rejects Biogas „Compost“ recyclables

3 The lowest cost option for MBT

Mechanical treatment AD Aerobic MSW

Dry Landfill recyclables Landfill Biogas Landfill

Partial MBT treatment with landfilling

The ecologically best solution

Household Waste

Source Grey Mechanical RDF I Separation Waste Separation

Thermal Digestion OFMSW treatment

Surface

Post-treatment Application Digestion

RDF II Fertilizer Compost

Dedicated Combustion

4 Percentage of Population hooked to an MBT

Martin Steiner, 2005

Countries with the highest share of MBT Installed capacity of operational facilities by location

Italy 6'500

Germany 5'700 Spain

Australia

Netherland

Austria

USA

France

Belgium

Canada

UK

Poland

Turkey

Japan

Portugal

Israel

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 Input Capacity (in 1'000 Tonnes per annum)

Total installed capacitiy approx. 20m tons

5 Commercially available MBT systems

In total there are more than 50 technology providers claiming experience with MBT. Only 26 processes have full-scale operating plants:

Germany: Biodegma UK: CIVIC NL: Grontmij BTA/MAT New Earth Haase Wastec CH: Kompogas Hese B: OWS Horstmann Austria: Komptech ISKA VKW SF: Citec Linde Rumen Nehlsen Italy: SCT F: Valorga RosRoca EcoDeco Sutco USA: Bedminster Israel: ArrowBio Canada: Wright

MBT with AD: Dry digestion Example: Valorga

6 MBT with AD: Dry digestion Example: Valorga

MBT with AD: Dry digestion Example: Valorga

7 MBT with AD: Wet digestion (1) Example: Omrin

4

3 2 1 5

1 = waste storage 2 = separation unit 3 = washing unit 4 = digestion unit 5 = power plant

MBT with AD: Wet digestion (2) Example: Omrin

Separation unit Washing unit Digestion unit

Water Paper/ RDF suspension Inert Biogas plastics 40% 20750 16% (9,4%) 6% 6%

(OFMSW) Organics Digestate 220,000 (41%) 36% 16% tonnes 100%

Ferro/ Sand Residue Effluent non-ferro 5% 3% 14% 3%

8 MBT with AD: Wet digestion (3)

Example: Omrin

MBT with AD: Percolation (1)

Example: UR-3R Sydney

Plant thruput: 175’00 tpy Landifill diversion: 80% Income from: gate fee electricity Recycled prod OGM

CO2-equivalent

9 MBT with AD: Percolation (2)

Example: UR-3R Sydney

MBT with AD: Percolation (3)

Example: UR-3R Sydney

Percolation Organic fraction

10 MBT with AD: Percolation (4)

Example: UR-3R Sydney

Digestion

MBT with AD: Percolation (5)

Example: UR-3R Sydney

Composting & Refining

11 Can we afford MBT ?

Type calculations based on the percolation system: 1. Mass balance

Biogas Digester 8.5%

Household Mech. Mech. Composting Percolator treatment

> 120mm Sand Fe 3% Degradation Water > 60mm 12% 3% 1% 10% 8% Water 11.3% Landfill 43%

MBT before an existing incinerator

+ 25‘700 tpy small business waste + 11‘300 tpy household waste Household Small business waste waste 103 € per t

Biogas Digester 140‘000 tpy 8.5%

Household Mech. waste treatment Percolator Incineration 86‘000 tpy Fe 3% Sand Degradation 3% 1% Water > 120mm 11.3% 12% 17‘000 tpy

12 MBT & incineration: Household waste „grey bag“

+ 48‘400 tpy household waste Household waste 79 € per t

Biogas Digester 140‘000 tpy 8.5%

Household Mech. waste treatment Percolator Incineration 86‘000 tpy Fe 3% Sand Degradation 3% 1% Water > 120mm 11.3% 12% 17‘000 tpy

MBT, incineration & landfill 28‘000 tpy RDF @ 150€/t 60‘000 tpy landfill @ 40€/t 79 € per ton 60‘000 tpy

Biogas Landfill Digester 8.5% 43% 140‘000 tpy

Household Mech. Mech. Composting waste treatment Percolator treatment

Sand Fe 3% Degradation Water > 60mm 3% 1% 10% 8% > 120mm Water 12% 11.3%

Incineration 17‘000 tpy 11‘000 tpy

13 Conclusions

• MBT is a low cost and reliable option within the processes of waste upgrading • It is particularly well suited in developed countries where landfill capacities are still available and emissions are to be reduced •It is a low cost option to allow more waste to be treated in an existing incineration plant • It is an excellent and cost efficient tool in developing countries where most of the (organic rich) waste is still dumped • It is an excellent means to produce soil improvers for arid areas

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