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 reduction improvements are analysed. Claimed health effects of emissions are scrutinized and shown to be groundless. The ‘emerging’technologies of pyrolysis or gasification are discussed and their emissions performance compared with best practice EfWI. It is shown that there is little to draw between these contrasting energy recovery options. The role of MSW recycling is scrutinized and it is concluded that EfWI and practicable recycling and composting can work together as part of a truly integrated waste management strategy.