Technical Development of Waste Sector in Sweden: Survey

MASTER’S THESIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES RESEARCH
Box 1: Questionnaire for the survey
Question 1: In your opinion, what are the key factors (driving forces) for developing waste
treatment technologies in Sweden?
Question 2: What are the most challenging factors in sustainable waste management system
in Sweden?
Question 3: Do you recommend any emerging (new or developing) technology for Sweden
which can be implemented in future for sustainable waste management system?
2.2. Identification of Emerging Technologies
Through the literature review and questionnaire survey, emerging technologies are identified first,
and then SWOT analysis has been done to analyze strength, weakness, opportunity and threats of the
technologies. A qualitative evaluation of the overall performance of the technologies has been done
on the basis of some criteria’s which are described below.
2.2.1 Survey of emerging technology
In second phase, emerging technologies are identified from the literature review and from the
professionals’ feedback. Emerging technology is referred as a developing technology or a technology
that will be developed in near future. Emerging technology is a cutting edge technology and it need
not be a new technology. In this study, emerging technologies are considered as those technologies
which are not available now in Sweden. Emerging technology may be implemented for different
problem solving context but this study was done by considering the treatment of municipal solid
waste technology in Sweden.
Emerging technologies in waste treatment sector are analyzed by some selected criteria’s and a
catalogue of all emerging technologies is prepared for different waste treatment process system. Five
criteria’s are selected for analyzing the emerging technologies, those are; process type, waste
categories, contaminated medium, development stage, data availability. In the process type, waste
treatment technologies are categorized base on the process like mechanical, biological, chemical or
thermal process. Emerging technologies are analyzed based on treatment of waste fraction, i.e.
whether technologies can manage single waste fraction (paper, glass, plastic) or the different waste
fractions at a time. Contaminated medium shows the probable way of contamination from the
emerging technologies, therefore for different waste treatment technology it can be air, water or soil.
Development stage is very important criteria because while planning for future waste management
system development of technology and applicability in the real scenario is the key issue. Therefore,
emerging technologies are also analyzed based on their development stage i.e. laboratory stage to
KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN
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