Carbon dioxide balance and cost analysis for different solid waste management scenarios

In order to determine the optimal final destination of municipal solid waste, it is necessary to consider both monetary costs and environmental externalities, such as carbon balance and GHG production, as well as the local availability of waste-processing industrial infrastructure. In order to develop a strategy for the selection of the optimal waste management system, in the present work we consider a specific city located in Piedmont (northern Italy). The volume of municipal solid waste produced in the city is about 540,000 ton/year. To determine the best method for management and disposal of this volume, we considered three different scenarios, using the best available technologies. The scenarios included the use of both thermal processing systems (incineration and gasification plants) and other systems (mechanical separation plants, anaerobic digestion plants). The scenarios were analyzed and compared, considering environmental, construction and operating costs, in order to develop a model for making an objective comparison. The results of the analysis for this specific case revealed that direct combustion in an incineration plant delivered the best outcome for both environmental impacts and economic convenience. More generally, the comparison methodology for the scenarios can be a useful approach for determining the best solution for waste management planning for a specific locality.