The Incinerator Guidebook: A Practical Guide for Selecting ... - SSWM

pit, placenta pit, rinsing station, protective enclosures; fuel supply and electricity through the period
of operation; salaries of operators; supervisory and management time; training of operators and
supervisors; service; and maintenance and spare parts. All of these cost elements should be taken
into consideration when comparing the costs of incinerators.
Comparing costs
The table below is an illustrative example of how costs/capacity could be compared side by side
including installation costs and life-cycle costs. Note that when considering the purchase of a WDU
kit vs. installing a De Montfort-style locally manufactured unit, determine the availability of
high-quality materials (including refractory bricks and metal parts) as well as skilled engineers to
ensure the design is appropriate and the unit is installed correctly.
Table 1. Comparison of installed small-scale, auto-combustion incinerators currently in use.
Characteristics
CREATE ∗ waste disposal
unit (WDU)
De Montfort-style locally
manufactured unit
Materials $5,000 $2,000
Installation (including
labor)
$4,500 $4,000
Days required to install 9 18
Annual maintenance costs $150 $1,000
Average life span (years) 5–10 2–3
Capacity (day) 20–30 kg/day 15–20 kg/day
∗CREATE=Centre for Renewable Energy, Appropriate Technology, and Environment.
∗∗All amounts are in US dollars.
9