The impact of waste incineration on society

Transcription

1 Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants The impact of waste incineration on society Jan LC Manders Deputy President CEWEP Chamusca 28th October

2 Overview Who is CEWEP Some facts about waste incineration and WtE Objective information on «Impact of waste incineration on Society» Hygienic way of waste disposal & supply of energy Safe, sound and professional activity Performance in terms of emissions Contribution towards climate protection Communication with stakeholders 2

3 Various categories of waste incineration activity within Europe Waste to Energy: incineration of Municipal Solid waste (and comparable commercial waste) about 400 plants processing 57 million tonnes per annum Incineration of Hazardous waste (incl medical waste) about 2,6 mln tonnes in 25 plants Co incineration of waste in cement kilns and coal fired power plants All are regulated by the EU Waste Incineration Directive 3

4 CEWEP Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants CEWEP represents about 340 Waste-to-Energy plants across Europe, 80% of the European market. They thermally treat household and similar waste, that remains after waste prevention, reuse and recycling by generating energy from it. 4

5 Waste-to-Energy in Europe in 2005 Waste-to-Energy Plants in Europe operating in 2005 Thermally treated Municipal Solid Waste in tonnes/year Norway 0,6 19 Sweden 2,2 29 Finland* 0,05 1 Estonia Latvia Ireland United Kingdom 3* 14 France 13,6 128 Netherlands 5,5 11 Belgium 2,5 18* Luxembourg 0,1* 1 Denmark* 3,5 30 Switzerland 3,3 29 Germany Czech Republic 0,4 3 Austria 1,5 8 Slovenia Poland 0,04* 1 Slovakia Hungary 0,3 1 Lithuania Portugal 1,1 3 Spain 1,7 10 Italy 3,1 47 Greece * Estimate based in ISWA report 2006 * Estimate based on Eurostat (data also included cement kilns) 5

6 The Landfill Directive is one of the instruments in EU Waste Policy According to the Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills must be reduced: to 35 % of the total amount (base year 1995) by reducing adverse effects on hygiene, contamination of soil and water reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 74 million tons CO 2 -equivalents Methane emissions from landfills are 23 times more significant to global warming than CO 2. 6

7 Treatment of MSW in the EU 27 in 2006 Source: EUROSTAT Recycling (Incl. Composting) Waste-to-Energy Landfilling 7

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9 Energy from WtE is versatile! About 50 % of energy from WtE is classified as renewable energy! Most is converted into electricity to be supplied to the grid Supply of heat in the form of steam to other industries is the most efficient application Supply of hot water for district heating is widespread Application of steam for district cooling is technically and economically feasible via installation of absorption heat pumps. Initiatives are being taken now. Application of steam for generation of high quality drinking water or distilled water via MED s is also technically and economically viable!

10 Potential CO 2 reduction from WtE for EU 27 by shifting away from landfill Installation Million tonnes CO 2 eq avoided (both scenario s) Equivalent annual emissions from cars Improving of existing WtE plants (treating 56,7 million tonnes 5,8 million tonnes 3 million cars New WtE plants (treating 54,8 million tonnes MSW additionally) 39,4 million tonnes 19 million cars Total 45 million tonnes 22 million cars 45 million tonnes of CO 2 represents 6 % of EU reduction target! 10

11 WtE: cleanly and safely treating your waste Sophisticated filtering devices minimise the emissions into the atmosphere by blocking the pollutants, originating from the waste, such as heavy metals. The Waste Incineration Directive 2000/76/EC introduced the most stringent emission limit values applied to any single industry. 11

12 Waste-to-Energy Plant (Würzburg) Incineration/ Energy recovery Flue-gas cleaning Waste delivery 1. Tipping hall 8. DENOx catalyst 15. Primary air fan 2. Waste bunker 9. Economiser 16. Re-circulation fan 3. Grabs 10. Spray drier 17. Re-circulation to ECO 4. Feed chute 11. Fabric filter 18. Turbine and generator 5. Moving grate 12. Fan 19. Boiler water tank 6. Boiler 13. Stack 20. Residue silo 7. Electrostatic precipitator 14. Bunker air extraction 21. Bottom ash bunker 12

13 WID: Emission Limit Values (ELV) for waste incineration Component Limit value Period (Cd) and (Tl) 0,05 mg/m! max 8 hours (Hg) 0,05 mg/m! max 8 hours (Sb), (As), (Pb), (Cr), (Co), (Cu), (Mn), (Ni), (V) 0,5 mg/m! max 8 hours dioxins and furans, 0,1 ng/m! max 8 hours (CO) 50 mg/m! daily average value dust 10 mg/m! daily average value (HCl), 10 mg/m! daily average value (HF), 1 mg/m! daily average value (SO 2 ), 50 mg/m! daily average value (No), (NO 2 ) (depending on plant size). 200 mg/m! mg/m! daily average value 13

14 Waste-to-Energy Reducing emissions In g Dioxin emissions dropped to approx. 1/1000 in 1990 one third of all dioxin emissions in Germany came from waste incineration plants; during the year 2000 the figure was less than 1% In ,5g Source: German Federal Environment Ministry (BMU), July

15 Life Cycle Analysis of the WtE operation CEWEP has carried out a major Life Cycle Impact Analysis to examine the integral impact of WtE on the society for the combination of: The average MSW composition across EU The «average» WtE process The average EU energy substitution mix The outcome has been presented in a 10 parameter Impact analysis according to the CML methodology 15

16 LCA of Waste-to-Energy plants Used Impact categories Abbreviation Name Unit ADP Abiotic Depletion Potential Kg antimony equivalent PE Primary Energy MJ GWP Global Warming Potential kg CO 2 eq. EP Eutrophication Potential kg PO 4 eq. AP Acidification Potential Kg SO 2 eq. POCP Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential kg ethylene eq. HTP FAETP MAETP TETP Human Toxicity Potential Freshwater Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential Marine Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential Terrestrial Ecotoxicity Potential kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene eq. Source: Institute of Environmental Science University of Leiden: CML Methodology, 16

17 Summary of Impact analysis on 10 parameters Burden Biogenic CO 2 " Credits 17

18 Health studies Lisbon University's Institute of Preventive Medicine: waste incineration "does not impact on dioxin blood levels of nearby residents" of Waste-to-Energy plants UK Committee of Carcinogenity: any potential risk of cancer due to residency near to municipal solid waste incinerators was exceedingly low, and probably not measurable by the most modern epidemiological techniques k/coc/munipwst.htm 18

19 Health studies The Scientific Advisory Council of the Federal Medical Association (Germany) investigated potential health risks caused by emissions of Waste-to-Energy Plants, concluding: The evaluation conducted shows that currently operating Waste-to-Energy Plants, which conform to the technical standards, cause very marginal health risks, which can therefore be classified as negligible health risks for the population living in the vicinity of Waste-to-Energy Plants Source: German Medical Journal 90, edition 1 / 2, 11 th of January 1993, p , Publications 19

20 Biomonitoring: Measures the effect of the WtE plant s emissions on the quality of agricultural products in the area near the WtE plant. HVC Alkmaar, The Netherlands Five locations with sensitive, highly accumulating crops: grass, spinach, curly kale, gladioli Two cattle farms: cow s milk 20

21 Waste incineration is a professionally managed activity (AVR, Netherlands) 21

22 WtE plants can look pretty, even in city centres! Spittelau, Vienna AVR Rotterdam 22

23 Communication with stakeholders Communication with stakeholders is often the most important issue: Who are our stakeholders? Local community, neighbours Politicians Media NGO s and pressure groups Authorities 23

24 Communication with stakeholders Communication is generally effective when: Taking stakeholders seriously: attitude Being honest, transparent and consistent Not reactive but proactive Making use of various media and instruments: leaflets, newspaper, website, guided tours Third Party Advocates have a role to play 24

25 Examples of effective communication with local community Involvement in structured dialogue : regular consultation committee with neighbours Guided tours for visitors Sponsorship of community projects Open days 25

26 Thank you for your attention! CEWEP Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants Boulevard Clovis 12A, B-1000 Brussels Tel Fax Jan.manders@cewep.eu 26