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Contribution to closing the loop on waste materials: valorization of bottom ash from waste-to-energy plants under a life cycle approach

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Incineration has undergone several technology improvements, reducing air emissions and increasing the efficiency of energy and material recovery; however, there is still a long way to go. To analyze the environmental impacts of waste incineration, this study assessed 15 waste fractions that compose municipal waste in Spain, which are grouped as non-inert materials (plastics, paper, cardboard and organic matter), unburned materials (glass and Al) and ferrous materials. Additionally, this paper evaluates the valorization of bottom ash (BA) to produce steel, aluminum and cement in these recycled/recoverable waste fractions. The results depend on the input waste composition and the heating value (HHV) and showed that ferrous and unburned materials had the worst environmental performance due to the null HHV. The valorization of BA in steel, Al and cement production significantly reduced the environmental impact and the consumption of resources. BA recycling for secondary steel and Al production would improve the environmental performance of the combustion of unburned materials and ferrous materials, whereas the use of BA in cement production diminished the consumption of NR for non-inert materials. This is of great interest for organic matter and PC, waste with a low energy production and high heavy metal and sulfur content.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Aquatic acidification

Al:

Aluminum

AOD:

Aquatic oxygen demand

AqA:

Aquatic acidification

BA:

Bottom ash

EB:

Environmental burdens

EBS:

Environmental burden sustainability

ESA:

Environmental sustainability assessment

EU:

Eutrophication

FA:

Fly ash

GI:

Grate incinerator

GHG:

Greenhouse gases

GW:

Global warming

HDPE:

High-density polyethylene

HHE:

Human health effects

HHV:

High heating values

LCA:

Life cycle assessment

LHV:

Low heating value

LCI:

Life cycle inventory

LCIA:

Life cycle impact assessment

LDPE:

Low density polyethylene

MEco:

Ecotoxicity to aquatic life (metals)

MSW:

Municipal solid waste

MSWI:

Municipal solid waste incineration

NMEco:

Ecotoxicity to aquatic life (others)

NMVOC:

Non-methane volatile organic compounds

nP:

Non-packaging

NRS:

Natural resource sustainability

P:

Packaging

PC:

Paper and cardboard

PCDD/F:

Dioxins and furans

PET:

Polyethylene terephthalate

POF:

Photochemical ozone formation

SOD:

Stratospheric ozone depletion

TOC:

Total organic carbon

TSP:

Total suspended particles

TVs:

Threshold values

WtE:

Waste-to-energy

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the project LIFE08 ENV/E/000135: FENIX—giving packaging a New Life.

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Correspondence to M. Margallo.

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Margallo, M., Aldaco, R., Bala, A. et al. Contribution to closing the loop on waste materials: valorization of bottom ash from waste-to-energy plants under a life cycle approach. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 20, 1507–1515 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-018-0709-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-018-0709-6

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