Laboratory of Heat transfer and Environmental EngineeringLaboratory of Heat transfer and Environmental Engineering

Department of Mechanical EngineeringDepartment of Mechanical Engineering

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Treatment options for biodegradable waste: Reducing BDW landfilling

Apostolos MalamakisDr Mechanical Engineer

Workshop on recycling of waste20-21 September 2011 - Tirana, Albania

The Eco Cycle SocietyThe Eco Cycle Society

MS shall develop national strategies for reduction of biodegradable waste using recycling, composting, biogas production and material/energy recovery

Any waste that is capable of undergoing anaerobic or aerobic decomposition

Paper and cardboard

Waste from kitchen, food courts etc.

Market waste

WoodWaste from gardens & parks

Textile materials

Definition and strategies for biodegradable waste

OverviewOverview On average, the European citizen generated On average, the European citizen generated 10 % more waste10 % more waste in in

2007 than in 1995 (Eurostat). On average the generation of waste is 2007 than in 1995 (Eurostat). On average the generation of waste is about about 500 kg per capita500 kg per capita ranging from 300 to 800 kg per capita ranging from 300 to 800 kg per capita (2007). (2007).

In 1995, In 1995, 62 %62 % of municipal waste was landfilled on average and in of municipal waste was landfilled on average and in 2007 this had fallen to 2007 this had fallen to 42 %42 %..

Thirteen countries had either no incineration or incinerated less Thirteen countries had either no incineration or incinerated less than 10 % of their municipal waste in 2007. Eight EU‑15 Member than 10 % of their municipal waste in 2007. Eight EU‑15 Member States States incinerated more than 20 % of municipal wasteincinerated more than 20 % of municipal waste..

22 %22 % of municipal waste generated in 2007 has been of municipal waste generated in 2007 has been recycledrecycled and and 17 % composted17 % composted (Eurostat, 2009). (Eurostat, 2009).

Biodegradable municipal waste Biodegradable municipal waste (bio-waste, paper and (bio-waste, paper and cardboard, and biodegradable textiles) make up a cardboard, and biodegradable textiles) make up a considerable share of municipal waste — approximately considerable share of municipal waste — approximately 60–70 %60–70 % in most countries. in most countries.

The generation of The generation of BMWBMW has been relatively stable over has been relatively stable over the period 1995–2006 although its production varies the period 1995–2006 although its production varies between countries and regions (200-400 kg per capita).between countries and regions (200-400 kg per capita).

Overview (up to 2007) Overview (up to 2007) Total MW: 300-800 kg/capitaTotal MW: 300-800 kg/capita Total BMW: 200-400 kg/capitaTotal BMW: 200-400 kg/capita Recycling rate: 20-370 kg/capitaRecycling rate: 20-370 kg/capita1.1. Paper/cardboard: 10-140 kg/capitaPaper/cardboard: 10-140 kg/capita

2.2. Bio-waste: 10-130 kg/capitaBio-waste: 10-130 kg/capita

3.3. Plastic: 1-50 kg/capitaPlastic: 1-50 kg/capita

4.4. Glass: 5-45 kg/capitaGlass: 5-45 kg/capita

5.5. Metal: 2-25 kg/capitaMetal: 2-25 kg/capita

Waste generation per country and for EU-27 in 2008 (kg/cap)

Projections - ETC/RWM 2007 (EU 25)

EU Waste Composition (2004)

EU MSW management (kg/cap)

Municipal waste treatment, 2008 (% of total municipal waste treated)

BMW: What happens to it?LANDFILL (2003)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

%

BMW: What happens to it?INCINERATION (2003)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

%

BMW: What happens to it?COMPOSTING (2003)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

%

European Union Composting European Union Composting penetrationpenetration

Wide-spread separate collection and composting

Implementation phase

Initial phase

Minimal activities

Lessons learned from Lessons learned from Europe Europe

““good results countries” have:good results countries” have: Regime of certainty: strong planning, Regime of certainty: strong planning,

landfill bans, strict regulation, municipal landfill bans, strict regulation, municipal (co-)ownership reducing financial risks;(co-)ownership reducing financial risks;

Partnership between government levels: Partnership between government levels: transparant responsibilities, thorough transparant responsibilities, thorough consultation, local implementation;consultation, local implementation;

Public trust: separate local waste taxes Public trust: separate local waste taxes (transparency), strict adherence to EU (transparency), strict adherence to EU requirements;requirements;

Integrated approach across waste Integrated approach across waste streams: integration of household and streams: integration of household and industrial waste leads to cost reductions.industrial waste leads to cost reductions.

Lessons learned from Lessons learned from Europe Europe

““bad results countries” have:bad results countries” have: Lack of certainty which creates difficulties Lack of certainty which creates difficulties

in securing key waste management in securing key waste management infrastructure;infrastructure;

Poor strategic planning capability with Poor strategic planning capability with little cooperation between tiers of little cooperation between tiers of government;government;

Weak local accountability and ownership of Weak local accountability and ownership of waste related issues so that issues are waste related issues so that issues are repeatedly deferred;repeatedly deferred;

Politically inconsistent messages and fiscal Politically inconsistent messages and fiscal incentives which contradict the promotion incentives which contradict the promotion of the waste hierarchy.of the waste hierarchy.

Measures for reducing landfilling of BMW

Measure Advantages Disadvantages Application

1. Complete banning of BMW landfilling

-BMW diversion from SL enhanced-SL lifetime increases

-Rigid -Detailed data on BMW quantities and systematic control of incoming waste loads is needed -Increased management costs

Certain SL located closely to treatment facilities

2. Complete banning in landfilling certain BMW streams (paper, garden waste, etc)

- BMW diversion from SL enhanced-Separate collection systems encouraged -Environmental conscience developed

-Rigid -Detailed data on BMW quantities and systematic control of incoming waste loads is needed -Separation system in landfills is required -Increased management costs

Certain SL located closely to treatment facilities or to areas where separate collection systems operate Lasaridi et al. 2008

Lasaridi et al. 2008

Measure Advantages Disadvantages

Application

3. Limitation of BMW that can enter SLs (application per SL, inclusion in the licensing documents)

-Offers flexibility if quantities allowed to enter SL decrease over a time period -Encourages the setting up of systems for diverting BMW from SL -SL terms of operation are clearly defined -SL environmental impacts minimised rehabilitation costs decrease -SL operation and

-A common method to estimate BMW quantities at case level is necessary-In case diversion systems fail a temporary disposal area for BMW is required -Overall costs increase

Large SL serving urban areas

4. Landfill tax -Motivates against landfilling -May be a source of money to invest on recycling/recovery

-Need to change how waste producers are charged -Landfill gate fees must increase up to 250-300% to reach treatment costs

Should be considered by central authorities and applied by case if considered applicable

Euro/ton

0

20

40

60

80

100

Euro/ton

Landfill tax in 13 EU countries (€/ton, 2004-2005)

Lasaridi et al. 2008

Measure Advantages Disadvantages

Application

5. Limitation of BMW that can enter SLs (application at the regional level)

- Offers flexibilty if targets are redefined over a time period -Encourages the setting up of systems for diverting BMW from SL -SL terms of operation are clearly defined -SL environmental impacts minimised - Offers flexibility - SL operation and -rehabilitation costs decrease

-A common method to at regional level is necessary estimate BMW quantities -Increased complexity -Inadequate institutional infrastructure in many areas -Overall costs increased

Where regional authorities have the necessary infrastructure

6. Upper and lower limit of BMW treated (per facility, inclusion in licensing documents)

-Facilities can accept quantities from various areas thus competitiveness is encouraged -Encourages the setting up of systems for diverting BMW from SL especially if combined with measure 4 -Flexible system, not depending on a certain facility -Room available for separation at source systems

-A common method to at regional or case level is necessary estimate BMW quantities -Increased complexity

In any case

Technical aspects - Utilization paths for Technical aspects - Utilization paths for energy recoveryenergy recovery

[Kaltschmitt, M., Hartmann, 2001]

BDW management The Hellenic experience

Municipal Solid Waste generation (1960-2005)

0

1.000

2.000

3.000

4.000

5.000

6.000

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Year

Mu

nic

ipal

Sol

id W

aste

(k

t)

food waste paper plastic metals glass rest

MSW production and management – current situation

Landfills in GreeceLandfills in Greece

Volos

Tagarades

Ano Liosia

• 63 landfills in operation

•Only in 3 landfills is performed biogas collection and energy recovery:

- Ano Liosia (23.5 MWe).

- Tagarades (5 MWe).

- Volos (1.3 MWe) …

Landfill gas utilizationLandfill gas utilization

Ano Liossia(Athens): 23,9 MWe

Tagarades(Thessaloniki): 5 MWe

Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)

Existing MBTsExisting MBTs1.1. Ano LiossiaAno Liossia

Capacity:Capacity: 1 1,,500 500 tt//dd

2.2. Ditiki Ellada: BiodryingDitiki Ellada: Biodrying ( (is operating since 2009is operating since 2009))3.3. IrakleioIrakleio: : BiodryingBiodrying ( (is operating sinceis operating since 2009 2009))

Ano Liossia MBT

Hellenic waste management – planned MBTs will be constructed

Waste derived fuelsWaste derived fuels

11. . MSWMSW / / residuals MRF and/or MBTresiduals MRF and/or MBT

2. 2. Refuse Derived FuelRefuse Derived Fuel (RDF): Consists of paper and (RDF): Consists of paper and plastic and it is produced mainly in MRFs and MBTs.plastic and it is produced mainly in MRFs and MBTs.

3. 3. Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF): Consists of BMW (in a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF): Consists of BMW (in a big proportion)big proportion) and is needed biological treatment and is needed biological treatment (biodrying process).(biodrying process).

The three aforementioned fuels could incinerated The three aforementioned fuels could incinerated without other supplementary fuel for energy recovery.without other supplementary fuel for energy recovery.

RDF and SRF could co-incinerated on other RDF and SRF could co-incinerated on other industriesindustries (cement plants, energy plants etc.).(cement plants, energy plants etc.).

Construction barriers of WtE plants in GreeceConstruction barriers of WtE plants in Greece (1/2)(1/2)

• Historical reasons.

• Political reasons.

• Dependence from the low

gate fee of the sanitary

landfills, without taking into

consideration Life Cycle

Costing approach.

MBT at Ano Liossia(Skordilis, 2006)

Construction barriers of WtE plants in GreeceConstruction barriers of WtE plants in Greece (2/2)(2/2)

• Very sensitive and flexible market for RDF/SRF.

• Authorisation, licensing, bureaucracy.

• One new initiative.

RDF at Ano Liossia(Skordilis, 2006)

A target in the … binA target in the … bin Simple/cheap means – huge impact: equip small and medium Simple/cheap means – huge impact: equip small and medium

communities with separate collection binscommunities with separate collection bins Implement wide public awareness campaigns – without the Implement wide public awareness campaigns – without the

people we cannot have results whatever the legislation imposes people we cannot have results whatever the legislation imposes

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!