International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

taxes on incineration despite the fact that much of the literature suggests that unless
heat is recovered with a high level of efficiency, the external costs of incineration are
not so different from those of landfills. 1153 Other studies are more positive regarding
incineration, though neither of the two referenced below applies a positive discount
rate in the analysis). 1154
61.2.4 Other Residual Treatments
There are not many studies appraising the options in respect of other residual
treatments. A summary of the issues relating to appraisal of these treatments is given
below.
61.2.4.1 Advanced Thermal Treatment
ATT systems are likely to be affected by similar considerations as incinerators. Key
differences may be as follows (and these differences are likely to be specific to
specific configurations);
1. Some systems may be configured so as to produce syngas from waste materials
rather than to combust the gas and generate energy. This means that the effect is
not to displace energy per se, but other feedstocks in chemical synthesis. To the
extent that these feedstocks are produced using processes which are
environmentally harmful, such substitution will be beneficial;
2. Although some incinerators make use of post-treatment processes to minimize
the impacts of landfilling air pollution control residues, in some high temperature
processes, the vitrification of such residues is integrated into the process. This
would imply that to the extent that landfilling of such residues without such
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1154 J-O, Sundqvist et al (2002) Hur skall hushallsavfallet tas omhand – utvardering av olika
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