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Energy recovery or material recovery for MSW treatments?

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  • Chen, Chung-Chiang
  • Chen, Yi-Tui

Abstract

Whether to recycle the recyclable fraction in the MSW (municipal solid waste) or to incinerate it for energy recovery is a debating issue. In this paper we present a simple criterion to judge what type of waste components should be recycled or incinerated with energy recovery. According to the R1 formula presented by the waste framework directive (Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament), this paper calculates the energy performances of MSW waste-to-energy plants currently operated in Taiwan firstly. By using the assumed value of energy recovery efficiency and carbon emission costs, we compare the treatment methods between recycling (material recovery) and energy recovery by the cost and benefit analysis, and examine the suitability of recycling for waste fractions of paper, food waste, PET, PVC, and plastic bags/films under a variety of scenarios. The results show that food waste is more appropriate to be treated by recycling while plastic bags/films are suggested to be incinerated with energy recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Chung-Chiang & Chen, Yi-Tui, 2013. "Energy recovery or material recovery for MSW treatments?," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 37-44.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:74:y:2013:i:c:p:37-44
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.02.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jones, R.E. & Speight, R.E. & Blinco, J.L. & O'Hara, I.M., 2022. "Biorefining within food loss and waste frameworks: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    2. Lino, F.A.M. & Ismail, K.A.R., 2013. "Alternative treatments for the municipal solid waste and domestic sewage in Campinas, Brazil," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 24-30.
    3. Konstantinos Kalkanis & Dimitrios E. Alexakis & Efstathios Kyriakis & Kyriaki Kiskira & Junior Lorenzo-Llanes & Nickolas J. Themelis & Constantinos S. Psomopoulos, 2022. "Transforming Waste to Wealth, Achieving Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 1541-1559, December.
    4. Park, Min-Ju & Yun, Sungil & Jeong, Dae-Woon & Won, Wangyun, 2025. "Upcycling municipal solid waste: Scenario-based techno-economic evaluation and life cycle assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    5. Piippo, Sari & Juntunen, Arttu & Kurppa, Sirpa & Pongrácz, Eva, 2014. "The use of bio-waste to revegetate eroded land areas in Ylläs, Northern Finland: Toward a zero waste perspective of tourism in the Finnish Lapland," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 9-22.
    6. Kerstens, S.M. & Priyanka, A. & van Dijk, K.C. & De Ruijter, F.J. & Leusbrock, I. & Zeeman, G., 2016. "Potential demand for recoverable resources from Indonesian wastewater and solid waste," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 16-29.

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