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Sustainability Indicators to MSW Treatment Assessment: The Rio de Janeiro Case Study

Author

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  • Júlia P. Oliveira

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Processos Químicos e Bioquímicos (EPQB), Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil)

  • Fernando L. P. Pessoa

    (Chemical Engineering, University Center SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Brazil)

  • Ana Mehl

    (Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil)

  • Flávia C. Alves

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Processos Químicos e Bioquímicos (EPQB), Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil)

  • Argimiro R. Secchi

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Processos Químicos e Bioquímicos (EPQB), Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
    Chemical Engineering Program, Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa de Engenharia (COPPE), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-972, Brazil)

Abstract

The Brazilian Policy foresees the waste management hierarchy, according to which energy reuse from waste is preferred to final disposal. However, less than 0.2% of the country’s waste goes to energy production. This paper proposes sustainability indicators to support the decision to choose the best process to treat municipal solid waste (MSW) through bioenergy generation technologies. Then, we conduct a case study for Rio de Janeiro. Incineration and gasification were not economically feasible—despite TRL 9 and 8. However, the projects presented a null net present value by increasing the gate fee to 94.69 and 255.39 USD/ton of MSW, respectively. The social indicators (job creation, salary increase with the absorption of waste pickers, population served, reduction in MSW sent to landfill) did not indicate the best technology. The results of the environmental indicators for incineration and gasification were, respectively, 0.45 and 0.37 t CO 2eq /t MSW for GWP, 1.49 and 1.23 MWh/t MSW for energy intensity, 1.24 and 6.14 m 3 /t MSW for water intensity, 39.3 and 27.9 m 2 /t MSW for land use and 0.135 and 0.088 t SO 2eq /t MSW for acidification. Gasification presented better results on 60% of the environmental indicators. However, incineration scored better in the important ones, water and energy intensities, in addition to the technical–economic aspect.

Suggested Citation

  • Júlia P. Oliveira & Fernando L. P. Pessoa & Ana Mehl & Flávia C. Alves & Argimiro R. Secchi, 2024. "Sustainability Indicators to MSW Treatment Assessment: The Rio de Janeiro Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7445-:d:1466207
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. PINASSEAU Antoine & ZERGER Benoît & ROTH Joze & CANOVA Michele & ROUDIER Serge, 2018. "Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for Waste treatment Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control)," JRC Research Reports JRC113018, Joint Research Centre.
    2. Siddiqi, Afreen & Haraguchi, Masahiko & Narayanamurti, Venkatesh, 2020. "Urban waste to energy recovery assessment simulations for developing countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
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