Energy recovery from small-scale energy-from-waste (EfW) facility – Possible application in Hong Kong

Abstract

Solid waste management system is becoming a significant environmental, economic and technological challenge due to the increasing population and different waste stream. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is easy to generate but difficult to venerate. The question of whether MSW is an undervalued resource or an environmental burden is in continual debate. This paper presents an overview and structure of the current MSW management in Hong Kong and the advantages of waste diversion when the waste that normally would be delivered to the landfill is removed from the MSW. This paper also studies the technology of energy recovery which can be achieved from MSW in direct combustion as a fuel to produce power and heat, or indirectly, through waste conversion to fuel or fuel in a state of storage for future use. The necessity, rationale and application of energy recovery facilities are discussed to meet public health and environmental concerns and the public’s desire and willingness to reuse and recycle waste materials. Solid waste management serves both resource recovery and waste disposal in the public’s future challenges and opportunities for change.