Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

A survey of U. S. and European practices for recovering energy from municipal waste

Journal Article · · Prog. Biomass Convers.; (United States)
Methods of waste recovery in U.S. and Europe are reviewed with emphasis on environmental effects. The location of waste-to-energy steam generating incinerators is discussed, noting that 80% of U.S. residential discards consisting of newsprint and plastic materials are combustible. The mass burning of waste with heat recovery in firebox-boiler units is discussed along with burning of refuse-derived fuel used as the total fuel, supplemental fuel, and for cofiring in utility and industrial boilers. Environmental considerations including ash and gas pollution, control regulations, air emission standards, and stoker firing with coal are examined. Finally, corrosion of equipment subjected to burned waste gases is described, concluding with economic assessment of energy recovery based on capital and operating costs, revenue from byproducts, and tipping fees.
Research Organization:
National Center for Resource Recovery, Inc., Washington, DC
OSTI ID:
6858287
Journal Information:
Prog. Biomass Convers.; (United States), Journal Name: Prog. Biomass Convers.; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN PBCND
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English