Greenhouse gas emissions from MSW incineration in China: Impacts of waste characteristics and energy recovery

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2012.06.008· OSTI ID:22089908

Na, Yang ^[1]; Miao, Chen; Liming, Shao ^[1]

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1. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092 (China)

Determination of the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted during municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) is complex because both contributions and savings of GHGs exist in the process. To identify the critical factors influencing GHG emissions from MSWI in China, a GHG accounting model was established and applied to six Chinese cities located in different regions. The results showed that MSWI in most of the cities was the source of GHGs, with emissions of 25-207 kg CO{sub 2}-eq t{sup -1} rw. Within all process stages, the emission of fossil CO{sub 2} from the combustion of MSW was the main contributor (111-254 kg CO{sub 2}-eq t{sup -1} rw), while the substitution of electricity reduced the GHG emissions by 150-247 kg CO{sub 2}-eq t{sup -1} rw. By affecting the fossil carbon content and the lower heating value of the waste, the contents of plastic and food waste in the MSW were the critical factors influencing GHG emissions of MSWI. Decreasing food waste content in MSW by half will significantly reduce the GHG emissions from MSWI, and such a reduction will convert MSWI in Urumqi and Tianjin from GHG sources to GHG sinks. Comparison of the GHG emissions in the six Chinese cities with those in European countries revealed that higher energy recovery efficiency in Europe induced much greater reductions in GHG emissions. Recovering the excess heat after generation of electricity would be a good measure to convert MSWI in all the six cities evaluated herein into sinks of GHGs.

• OSTI ID: 22089908
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 32; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHINA
COMBUSTION
ENERGY RECOVERY
FOOD
FOSSIL FUELS
GREENHOUSE GASES
NITROUS OXIDE
PLASTICS
SINKS
SOLID WASTES
URBAN AREAS