A comparative assessment of waste incinerators in the UK

J. D. Nixon; D. G. Wright; P. K. Dey; S. K. Ghosh; P. A. Davies

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.001

A comparative assessment of waste incinerators in the UK

J. D. Nixon, D. G. Wright, P. K. Dey, S. K. Ghosh, P. A. Davies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The uptake in Europe of Energy from Waste (EfW) incinerator plants has increased rapidly in recent years. In the UK, 25 municipal waste incinerators with energy recovery are now in operation; however, their waste supply chains and business practices vary significantly. With over a hundred more plant developments being considered it is important to establish best business practices for ensuring efficient environmental and operational performance. By reviewing the 25 plants we identify four suitable case study plants to compare technologies (moving grate, fluidised bed and rotary kiln), plant economics and operations. Using data collected from annual reports and through interviews and site visits we provide recommendations for improving the supply chain for waste incinerators and highlight the current issues and challenges faced by the industry. We find that plants using moving grate have a high availability of 87-92%. However, compared to the fluidised bed and rotary kiln, quantities of bottom ash and emissions of hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide are high. The uptake of integrated recycling practices, combined heat and power, and post incineration non-ferrous metal collections needs to be increased among EfW incinerators in the UK. We conclude that one of the major difficulties encountered by waste facilities is the appropriate selection of technology, capacity, site, waste suppliers and heat consumers. This study will be of particular value to EfW plant developers, government authorities and researchers working within the sector of waste management.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2234-2244
Number of pages	11
Journal	Waste Management
Volume	33
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.001
Publication status	Published - Nov 2013
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Statement: NOTICE: this is theauthor’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in WasteManagement. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review,editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality controlmechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made tothis work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version wassubsequently published in Waste Management, [33, 11, (2017)] DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.001

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Keywords

Energy from Waste (EfW)
Green supply chains
Incineration
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Waste-to-energy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Waste Management and Disposal

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.001

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 882 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "A comparative assessment of waste incinerators in the UK",

abstract = "The uptake in Europe of Energy from Waste (EfW) incinerator plants has increased rapidly in recent years. In the UK, 25 municipal waste incinerators with energy recovery are now in operation; however, their waste supply chains and business practices vary significantly. With over a hundred more plant developments being considered it is important to establish best business practices for ensuring efficient environmental and operational performance. By reviewing the 25 plants we identify four suitable case study plants to compare technologies (moving grate, fluidised bed and rotary kiln), plant economics and operations. Using data collected from annual reports and through interviews and site visits we provide recommendations for improving the supply chain for waste incinerators and highlight the current issues and challenges faced by the industry. We find that plants using moving grate have a high availability of 87-92%. However, compared to the fluidised bed and rotary kiln, quantities of bottom ash and emissions of hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide are high. The uptake of integrated recycling practices, combined heat and power, and post incineration non-ferrous metal collections needs to be increased among EfW incinerators in the UK. We conclude that one of the major difficulties encountered by waste facilities is the appropriate selection of technology, capacity, site, waste suppliers and heat consumers. This study will be of particular value to EfW plant developers, government authorities and researchers working within the sector of waste management.",

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author = "Nixon, {J. D.} and Wright, {D. G.} and Dey, {P. K.} and Ghosh, {S. K.} and Davies, {P. A.}",

note = "Publisher Statement: NOTICE: this is theauthor{\textquoteright}s version of a work that was accepted for publication in WasteManagement. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review,editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality controlmechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made tothis work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version wassubsequently published in Waste Management, [33, 11, (2017)] DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.001 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",

year = "2013",

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language = "English",

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AU - Ghosh, S. K.

AU - Davies, P. A.

N1 - Publisher Statement: NOTICE: this is theauthor’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in WasteManagement. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review,editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality controlmechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made tothis work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version wassubsequently published in Waste Management, [33, 11, (2017)] DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.001 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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N2 - The uptake in Europe of Energy from Waste (EfW) incinerator plants has increased rapidly in recent years. In the UK, 25 municipal waste incinerators with energy recovery are now in operation; however, their waste supply chains and business practices vary significantly. With over a hundred more plant developments being considered it is important to establish best business practices for ensuring efficient environmental and operational performance. By reviewing the 25 plants we identify four suitable case study plants to compare technologies (moving grate, fluidised bed and rotary kiln), plant economics and operations. Using data collected from annual reports and through interviews and site visits we provide recommendations for improving the supply chain for waste incinerators and highlight the current issues and challenges faced by the industry. We find that plants using moving grate have a high availability of 87-92%. However, compared to the fluidised bed and rotary kiln, quantities of bottom ash and emissions of hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide are high. The uptake of integrated recycling practices, combined heat and power, and post incineration non-ferrous metal collections needs to be increased among EfW incinerators in the UK. We conclude that one of the major difficulties encountered by waste facilities is the appropriate selection of technology, capacity, site, waste suppliers and heat consumers. This study will be of particular value to EfW plant developers, government authorities and researchers working within the sector of waste management.

AB - The uptake in Europe of Energy from Waste (EfW) incinerator plants has increased rapidly in recent years. In the UK, 25 municipal waste incinerators with energy recovery are now in operation; however, their waste supply chains and business practices vary significantly. With over a hundred more plant developments being considered it is important to establish best business practices for ensuring efficient environmental and operational performance. By reviewing the 25 plants we identify four suitable case study plants to compare technologies (moving grate, fluidised bed and rotary kiln), plant economics and operations. Using data collected from annual reports and through interviews and site visits we provide recommendations for improving the supply chain for waste incinerators and highlight the current issues and challenges faced by the industry. We find that plants using moving grate have a high availability of 87-92%. However, compared to the fluidised bed and rotary kiln, quantities of bottom ash and emissions of hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide are high. The uptake of integrated recycling practices, combined heat and power, and post incineration non-ferrous metal collections needs to be increased among EfW incinerators in the UK. We conclude that one of the major difficulties encountered by waste facilities is the appropriate selection of technology, capacity, site, waste suppliers and heat consumers. This study will be of particular value to EfW plant developers, government authorities and researchers working within the sector of waste management.

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KW - Green supply chains

KW - Incineration

KW - Municipal solid waste (MSW)

KW - Waste-to-energy

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VL - 33

SP - 2234

EP - 2244

JO - Waste Management

JF - Waste Management

SN - 0956-053X

IS - 11

ER -

A comparative assessment of waste incinerators in the UK

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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Cite this