Economic and Environmental Cost Analysis of Incineration and Recovery Alternatives for Flammable Industrial Waste: The Case of South Korea

Abstract

Abstract:As the generation of industrial wastes increases, waste treatment is steadily becoming a serious economic and environmental issue. Existing waste has mainly been treated by landfilling after incineration. A shortage of landfill sites necessitates waste management alternatives other than traditional incineration and landfill. This paper focuses on a cost-benefit analysis that evaluates the economic and environmental performances of five treatment strategies for flammable industrial wastes: incineration, refuse plastic fuel (RPF) boiler, RPF cement furnace, cement furnace after shredding of wastes, and paper incineration after shredding of wastes. For such purposes, our model considered the entire process of each waste treatment, which involves collection, transportation, treatment, recovery, and the disposal of flammable industrial wastes that pose risks to their surroundings. Case studies of each treatment processes are reviewed, and a cost-benefit analysis is performed to evaluate and identify the selection of treatment and disposal facilities, along with an allocation of flammable industrial wastes and waste residues from generators to treatment and disposal facilities and transportation routes, in order to achieve the minimum economic and environmental costs.

Hydrothermal Carbonization and Liquefaction of Sludge for Harmless and Resource Purposes: A Review

“…Only the final treatment is involved in the treatment of the toxic and harmful substances in the sludge. The common harmless processes in this step include composting, landfill, − incineration, , pyrolysis, and hydrothermal treatment (HT). − …”

“…Only the final treatment is involved in the treatment of the toxic and harmful substances in the sludge. The common harmless processes in this step include composting, 7 landfill, 8−10 incineration, 11,12 pyrolysis, 13 and hydrothermal treatment (HT). 14−16 Composting is a method that can utilize the different nutrients in sludge, such as N, P, and K. This technique not only satisfies the harmlessness criterion, but also recycles the resources.…”

Evaluation of Struvite Recovered from Swine Wastewater as an Alternative Phosphorus Source in Broiler Feed

“…Between the two pre-treatment methods used in this study, microwave irradiation was more economically efficient than incineration. Past studies on cost analyses reported values of around USD 0.12/kg and 0.17/kg for microwave irradiation and incineration pre-treatments, respectively [28,29]. However, further studies on detailed economic analysis with a preferred focus on recovery and pre-treatment cost, social costs reduction for environmental protection, and pollution prevention need to be conducted.…”

Conceptual Process Design, Energy and Economic Analysis of Solid Waste to Hydrocarbon Fuels via Thermochemical Processes

“…The high capital cost of incineration plants is justified by restricted environmental design and environmental emission regulations. Incineration plants require cost upgrades including particulate matter removal, semi-dry and wet scrubbers for acidic gases, selective non-catalytic and catalytic reduction in nitrous oxides (NOx), and activated carbon (AC) technology for removal of dioxins and heavy metals [46][47][48][49][50][51]. The equipment installed to reduce greenhouse gaseous emissions are considered CAPEX, whereas day to day operational equipment such as filters and removal of acidity in effluent gases are considered OPEX.…”

“…Incineration chemical plants require NOx and SOx combustors to ensure complete combustion and reduce overall harmful emissions. Moreover, activated carbon (AC) is used to remove chlorine, particles, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from gaseous effluents [50,53].…”