Comparative assessment of different municipal solid waste treatment methods based on greenhouse gases emission values

Abstract

The research is aimed at comparing different methods of municipal solid waste treatment (waste burial, composting, complex recycling) depending on the values of generated greenhouse gases. In order to compare waste burial and composting of municipal solid waste based on amount of generated greenhouse gases the calculation methods used for compiling the National Inventory, were taken.  The mass balance method was used to estimate the output of a product of complex recycling. The municipal solid waste components differ by amount of degradable organic carbon and decomposition rate but have the largest mass. The municipal solid waste treatment techniques consist in placing such waste at landfills and dumps which are sources of environmental pollution, for example, by greenhouse gases. There are other organic waste treatment methods, such as composting via different technologies, burning, recycling etc. But all of them are also associated with greenhouse gases emission. Easily decomposed organic waste can be used for production of organic fertilizers, but a mandatory requirement, that is separation from the general municipal solid waste stream at the time of waste production, should be complied with. A complex recycling of easily decomposed organic waste, including anaerobic and aerobic composting is offered as an efficient way of waste management. The article presents a comparative analysis of various methods of municipal solid waste treatment based on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the Odessa Region. It considers three waste treatment approaches: all waste mass is to be placed at landfills and dumps, composting of some of park and garden waste and burial of other components, complex recycling of food, park and garden waste and some of paper waste according to the developed scheme. Complex recycling offers the least value of total greenhouse gases emission over a five-year period whereas waste disposal is characterized by the highest value thereof.  The complex recovery of components containing bioavailable organic carbon through anaerobic fermentation method excludes emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as the biogas produced can be collected and extracted. However, over a long period, even after two-stage complex recycling, the total emission of greenhouse gases will be lower comparing to other methods of easily decomposed organic waste treatment. Emission of greenhouse gases in case of waste disposal has a prolonged nature whereas emission of greenhouse gases in case of composting occurs within a short period of time which should be taken into account when analyzing the prospects of solving the municipal solid waste problem.