WASTE TO ENERGY CONSIDERATIONS FOR INFORMED DECISION-MAKING Summary for policymakers What is Waste-to-Energy? Thermal Waste-to-Energy (WtE), also known as incineration with energy recovery, is a major waste treatment method in some developed countries and the most widely adopted technology that dominates the global WtE market. The European Union, however, which has relied on waste incineration for the past few decades, is now moving away from thermal WtE and other forms of incineration and is focusing on more FLUE GAS ecologically acceptable solutions such as EMISSIONS waste prevention, reuse and recycling as INPUTS AND Flue gas emissions contain the greenhouse it shifts towards a circular economy. gases and pollutants from the waste, which OUTPUTS OF requires further treatment before emission to the atmosphere. Emissions may include THERMAL carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, carbon monoxide, volatile WASTE-TO- organic compounds, persistent organic ENERGY pollutants (e.g. furans and dioxins) and some heavy metals. PLANTS HEAT WASTE FEEDSTOCK Thermal energy is one of the energy products from the combustion Municipal solid waste, sorted of waste feedstock, which can or unsorted, is often used as the be used in district heating waste feedstock for thermal WtE system in plant. During the incineration process, vicinity. the volume of the waste feedstock can be greatly reduced by 90%. ELECTRICITY BOTTOM ASH Electricity is one of the energy Bottom ash is the residual material products of thermal WtE, which is from incineration. It contains the then transferred to the power grid non-combustible fraction of waste to power up households. feedstock, including stones, glass, ceramic, and metals. The bottom FLY ASH ash may be used for construction Fly ash is the fine particulate purposes after metals are sorted out for ash from incineration, which is recycling. considered hazardous waste and must be treated accordingly. Global context and drivers CURRENT STATUS There are over 1700 thermal WtE plants worldwide. Over 80 per cent of thermal WtE plants are located in developed countries, led by Japan, France, Germany and the United States. Globally, 216 million tonnes of collected Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is incinerated each year, of which 15 per cent is incinerated with energy recovery. Thermal WtE accounts for 29 per cent and 25 per cent of MSW incinerated in Asia Pacific and Europe respectively. Thermal WtE utilizes the energy value in waste to generate electricity and/or heat. The biogenic component of the waste contributes to approximately one per cent of renewable energy globally. FUTURE TRENDS Thermal WtE has received considerable attention in developing countries due to its potential benefits for energy generation and reducing waste volume. Globally, more than 200 thermal WtE plants are currently under construction and will be operational between 2020 and 2023. Thermal WtE plants are emerging in developing countries in Asia Pacific, including China, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. NORTH AMERICA EUROPE AFRICA WEST ASIA ASIA PACIFIC The European Union, however, which has 82 plants 589 plants 1 plant 0 plants 1120 plants 11% 25% 29% relied on waste incineration for the past few decades, is now moving away from thermal LATIN AMERICA and THE CARIBBEAN WtE and other forms of incineration as it shifts 3 plants towards a circular economy. Landfill and other disposal Incineration without energy recovery Waste unaccounted for Incineration with energy recovery Other recovery (recycling and composting) The size of the pie charts represents the number THE MAJOR of WtE plants by region. DRIVERS PUBLIC CLIMATE LAND HEALTH AND ENERGY CHANGE IMPACT CONSTRAINTS ENVIRONMENTAL GENERATION CONCERNS Thermal WtE plants reduce WtE can reduce waste volume The energy value in waste greenhouse gas emissions by and mass by 75 to 90 per cent. A shift to thermal WtE could can be utilized to generate diverting waste from landfills improve hygiene and electricity and heat during the and open burning. environmental conditions. thermal WtE process. Challenges for developing countries WASTE LEGAL SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS ASPECTS IMPACT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS ASPECTS Organic waste Thermal WtE Developing Waste incinerators Public opposition makes up 53% to requires countries may are one of the is often a major 56% of MSW in low significant lack legislation on leading sources obstacle for and lower-middle investment for internationally of dioxins and building and income countries, startup, operation recognized furans globally. operating thermal which yields a low and maintenance. emission Mismanaged WtE plants. calorific value. standards, thermal WtE Income from monitoring and plants may Thermal WtE may Incineration waste disposal enforcement. produce unsafe potentially divert requires a fuel and energy sales is emissions. waste away from with minimal usually insufficient the 3Rs as plants average calorific to cover the full require feedstock value of 7 MJ/kg, investment and minimums, and should never operational cost and due to this fall below 6 MJ/ of a thermal WtE recyclable waste is kg for combustion plant. often used. without auxiliary fuel. The transition to WtE can impact the informal recycling sector. KEY FINDINGS AND MESSAGES The waste management hierarchy should be A complete and detailed legislative frame- used for integrated solid waste management work is a prerequisite for thermal WtE 1 systems. Reduction, reuse and recycling should introduction in developing countries. The 6 be prioritized and incorporated into waste man- framework should include strategies for main- agement plans that include thermal WtE recovery tenance and plant decommission, a phase options. out plan, pollution monitoring, guidelines on safe disposal of toxic by-products, medical There have been significant improvements in monitoring and health care for plant workers emissions control for modern thermal WtE tech- and the local community, and guidelines for 2 nologies compared to WtE technologies from accident management. the 1970s to the 1990s. Thermal WtE plants with advanced emission control technologies that are Thermal WtE utilizes the energy value in well-maintained have minimum public health waste to generate electricity and/or heat. impacts. Nevertheless, mismanaged thermal The biogenic component of waste overall WtE plants have been shown to produce unsafe contributes to approximately one per cent of 7 emissions, despite advanced emission control global renewable energy. technologies. In developing countries, the low calorific value Thermal WtE can potentially reduce waste and high moisture content of waste remain sector greenhouse gas emissions compared critical technical challenges for thermal WtE. Low to open burning and landfills without methane 3 calorific value of waste should average at least 7 gas capture and use, but will not completely 8 MJ/kg, and never fall below 6 MJ/kg. abate greenhouse gas emissions.. A large scale modern thermal WtE plant requires Thermal WtE can reduce the volume of waste at least 100,000 tonnes of MSW per year over entering landfills by 75–90 per cent, but it does 4 its lifetime. As with all large investment projects, not remove the need for landfills. In addi- 9 thermal WtE can potentially create lock-in tion, it can produce residues that are hazard- effects that may lead to plant overcapacity and ous and require safe disposal. hamper efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. Thermal WtE requires significant investment Achieving Integrated Sustainable Waste for startup, operation and maintenance. A Management requires integration of appro- holistic cost benefit analysis should be carried priate collection with different technologies 5 out in the local context to assess the social, leg- and waste treatment methods and govern- 10 islative and enabling conditions of the plant’s life ance systems in the local context. cycle. Income from waste disposal and energy sales is often insufficient to cover full investment and operational costs. CONSIDERATIONS SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS 3 ENABLING CONDITIONS 1 2 LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE: PRELIMINARY TECHNICAL TECHNOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT CONSIDERATIONS CONSIDERATIONS ASSESSMENT OF WASTE CHARACTERISTICS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT LEVEL 4 ALL ASSOCIATED STAKEHOLDERS STAKEHOLDER INCLUDING AUTHORITIES, COMMUNITIES, CONSULTATION WASTE AND ENERGY SECTORS 1 3 4 PRELIMINARY ENABLING CONDITIONS STAKEHOLDER CONSIDERATIONS f A life-cycle assessment that CONSULTATION f Conduct a waste survey to includes a cost benefit analysis f Stakeholder mapping and assess waste characteristics, of thermal WtE and other an analysis of all of the trends and future projections. potential WtE technologies potentially affected groups and should be completed. f Assess overall waste communities must be carried f The social, economic, and management performance out so that compensatory environmental impacts and strategies or initiatives can be co-benefits of the WtE plant launched. throughout its life cycle should 2 f Municipalities should present an be considered. TECHNICAL evidence-based feasibility study f CONSIDERATIONS A comprehensive legal on thermal WtE that includes framework in necessary the life-cycle assessment, f Local infrastructure and city before implementing all WtE cost-benefit analysis and conditions must be examined. technologies. environmental impact f Use experienced consultants f A financial model for the life assessment to keep the public or private sector experts to cycle of the thermal WtE plant informed of planning progress carry out an assessment of all that includes the planning, and build support for policy potential WtE technologies. commission, operation and decisions. decommission stages should be adopted. INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (IETC) United Nations Environment Programme 2-110, Ryokuchi koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka, 538-0036, Japan Tel: +81 6 6915 4581 / E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.unep.org/ietc.