Solid waste treatment as a high-priority and low-cost alternative for greenhouse gas mitigation

The increased concern about environmental problems caused by inadequate was te management, as well as the concern about global warming, promotes action s toward a sustainable management of the organic fraction of the waste. Lan dfills. the most common means to dispose of municipal solid waste (MSW), le ad to the conversion of the organic waste to biogas, containing about 50% m ethane, a very active greenhouse gas (GHG). One unit of methane has a globa l warming potential of 21 computed for a 100-year horizon or 56 computed fo r 20 years. The waste sector in Israel contributes 13% of total greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions for a time horizon of 100 years (for a time horizon o f 20 years, the waste sector contribution equals to more than 25% of total GHG emissions). The ultimate goal is to minimize the amount of methane (CH4 ) by converting it to CO2. This can be achieved by physicochemical means (e .g., landfill gas flare, incineration) or by biological processes (e.g., co mposting. anaerobic digestion). Since the waste in Israel has a high organi c material content, it was found that the most cost-effective means to trea t the degradable organic components is by aerobic composting (investment of less than US$ 10 to reduce emission of one ton CO2 equivalent per year). A nother benefit of this technology is the ability to implement it within a s hort period. The suggested approach, which should be implemented especially in developing countries, could reduce a significant amount of GHG at relat ively low cost and short time. The development of a national policy for pro per waste treatment can be a significant means to abate GHG emissions in th e short term, enabling a gain in time to develop other means for the long r un. In addition, the use of CO2 quotas will credit the waste sector and wil l promote profitable proper waste management.