Title:
Comparison of Municipal Solid Waste Technologies Through LCA Methodology as a Tool for Adequate Policies
Author(s):
Coelho, S.T., da Silva, G.A., Cortez, C.L., Garcilasso, V.P., Ruiz Poveda, M.M, Nogueira, A., da Silva, C.A., Goldemberg, J.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
In Brazil, all municipalities are responsible for collection and disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW). They have been facing problems due to the increased amount generated and the concentration of population in urban centers. In addition the recent legislation (2014) defines that wastes will not be allowed to be disposed in landfills without previous treatments, including energy conversion. Alternatively, the energy sector has a significant participation in the increasing of the greenhouse effect by the use of fossil fuels recently in Brazil with the introduction of the so-called emergence thermoelectric power plants to complement hydroelectric generation. Thus, studies on the environmental performance of technologies to allow the use of MSW for power production are becoming important. As the changes in the energy and waste management system are driven by the establishment of several policies, it is important that the assumptions used for such policies are based on robust analysis of the current situation considering all different aspects involved in the process. The objective of this paper is to compare the environmental performance of the three commercially available routes for electricity generation from MSW and sewage sludge through life cycle assessment methodology: landfill, incineration and mechanical-biological treatment (MBT).
Keywords:
energy, life cycle assessment (LCA), urban (municipal) wastes
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Sustainability assessment and criteria
Event:
22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4AV.3.27
Pages:
1557 - 1561
ISBN:
978-88-89407-52-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/22ndEUBCE2014-4AV.3.27
Price:
FREE
