Microsoft Word - Environmental benefits of recycling 2010 update.doc

Food & garden  ‐ n°7

Title Environmental^ assessment^ of^ waste^ systems^ for^ municipal^ waste^ in^
Århus Kommune
Year 2004
Author Kikerby

Case

Material composition

Sub‐scenario Incineration Anaerobic Digestion

Virgin material

Material marginal: which? / fertiliser

Electricity marginal: which? / /

Steam marginal: which? / /

Co‐products dealt with? / /

Recovered material

Material marginal: which? / fertiliser

Electricity marginal: which? coal coal

Steam marginal: which? coal coal

Co‐products dealt with? Yes Yes

Material recovery included? / Yes

Type of recycling / open loop

Alternative use of land/wood included? / /

In which ratio does recycled material substitute virgin material? / 70% N, 100% P and K

General

Technology

Infrastructures taken into account? No No

Transport included? Yes Yes

Energy production

Produced energy substitutes electricity? Yes Yes

Produced energy substitutes heat? Yes Yes

Avoided processes ‐ credits energy fertiliser and energy

Material substitutes / fertliser

Carbon sequestration issue taken into account? / /

Waste characteristics

Heating value 3.4 MJ/kg /

Degradation rate (over  100  years) / /

Incineration

Alternative use of incineration capacity included? No /

Efficiency 80%^ (69%electricit^ heat^ y)and^ 11%^ /

Composting

Compost spreading for composting taken into account? / Yes

Compost leaching after spreading taken into account? / Yes

Carbon storage taken into account? / No

Landfill / AD

Methane emissions included? / Yes

Efficiency /

97% methane recovery, 70%

energy efficiency (32%

electricity and 38% heat)

Carbon storage taken into account? / /

Material

recovery

Organic municipal waste

Material

production

Material

disposal

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