Technical Development of Waste Sector in Sweden: Survey

MASTER’S THESIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES RESEARCH
Normalization graph (Figure 18) shows the significance of impact & comparative impact level in
different impact categories. Normalization graph shows that, aquatic life can get significantly
vulnerable by both processes.
Now, from the inventory of the both waste treatment technologies, important impact categories
are analyzed below:
Aquatic Depletion: Incineration has significantly higher contribution in aquatic depletion both
marine and fresh water than P-G of MSW. Emissions from the leachate of the final residue
disposal to landfill are the main reason for aquatic depletion both for fresh and marine system.
Since, incineration process produce higher volume of residual waste, therefore, aquatic emissions
from the final residue is also higher for incineration of MSW. Heavy metal pollution like
vanadium, nickel, zinc, copper and the emission of selenium, antimony and molybdenum to air
are the main polluters for the aquatic depletion.
Human Toxicity: Pyrolysis-Gasification has lower contribution in Human toxicity impact compare
to Incineration. Impact mainly contributes from the disposal of final residue. Arsenic, Cadmium,
Mercury, Nickel, Nitrogen oxide and Hydrogen fluoride are the primary pollutants for the
Human toxicity which are emitted to atmosphere and water by the P-G process. Antimony and
Selenium mainly causes human toxicity by the incineration process through groundwater
pollution.
Global Warming Potential: Incineration has slightly higher contribution in global warming however,
the carbon emission is assumed same for the both technologies. The reason for the difference is
that, the volumes of final residue produced by the two technologies are different. Therefore, the
global warming potentials are also different as a whole impact.
Terrestrial Ecotoxicity: In terrestrial ecotoxicity, P-G has higher contribution that incineration
process. Heavy metals, like mercury, cadmium emission to the atmosphere are the main reason
for terrestrial ecotoxicity. It is important for both global as well as trans-boundary issues while
taking decision for waste facilities in certain technology.
5.3.7 Sensitivity Analysis
Avfall Sverige 2008 report shows that, a significant improvement in emission of Incineration
process has been made from 2003 to 2007. Per ton waste treatment emission of HCl, SOx, NOx,
and Dioxin have been reduced to 66%, 73%, 15% and 87% respectively from 2003 to 2007. For
the sensitivity analysis, it is assumed that 30% of emission can be improved for P-G process for
the next 5 years. Electricity generation and its use can be more efficient during that duration and
can achieve 5% more efficiency. Comparative analysis is shown in the following Figure 19 and
Table A5 (Appendix).
KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN
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