Energy from waste incineration - a state of the art emissions review with an emphasis on public acceptability

The emissions performance of today's, well run state of the art energy from waste incinerators (EfWI) is compared with those which were operational in the early 1990s and the substantial improvements highlighted. Dioxin reduc tion improvements are analysed. Claimed health effects of emissions are scr utinized and shown to be groundless. The 'emerging' technologies of pyrolys is or gasification are discussed and their emissions performance compared w ith best practice EfWI. It is shown that there is little to draw between th ese contrasting energy recovery options. The role of MSW recycling is scrut inized and it is concluded that EfWI and practicable recycling and composti ng can work together as part of a truly integrated waste management strateg y. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.