Why Waste-to-Energy Is Preferable to Landfilling

Source: https://www.thebalance.com
Waste-to-energy (WTE) or waste-from-energy (WFE) involves the creation of light or
heat energy from the processing of solid waste (mainly by incineration.) This WTE
process addresses the problem of solid waste disposal. The first U.S. waste
incinerator was built in 1885, and since the 1990s, waste incineration has been
associated with energy capture. While this approach very popular in parts of
Europe such as Scandinavia, WTE has not yet been as widely accepted in the U.S.
Current Scenario of Landfilling
The cost of landfilling in most countries is on the increase. Meanwhile, the availability
of landfill space continues to loom as a challenge. The cost of landfilling in Australia
ranges from $42 to $105 per ton. The average cost of landfilling in different states of
the U.S. ranges from $24 to $83 per ton. According to statistics provided by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the number of landfills in the US has
dropped from 7,924 in 1988 to just 1,654 in 2005. Increasingly, landfills are being
located further from urban centers, involving considerable transport expense.
Lets have a look at some of the benefits of WTE that landfilling does not offer.
Benefits of Waste-To-Energy
Economically Preferable: The cost of WTE depends on the technology as well as
location and other factors. The benefits result from avoiding the cost of garbage
transportation and landfilling, while at the same time generating energy that has
monetary value.
We can save the significant cost of trucking waste to landfills as most major landfills
are fairly distant from main city centers.

Conserves Natural Resources: WTE avoids the consumption of natural resources

like oil, gas, and coal which are otherwise used to generate energy. For example, a
single WTE facility (Huntsville Waste to Energy facility) saves over 200,000 barrels
of oil per year.
Better Recovery of Materials: In WTE, metals left in the waste stream can be
extracted from the residue resulting from combustion and the output can be recycled.
Less Impact on Climate: WTE has a number of environmental benefits. WTE
produces less greenhouse gas. Methane is a greenhouse gas which is mainly
emitted from the decomposition of the waste stream in landfills. It is over 20 times
more potent than carbon dioxide and is one of the most notable contributors to
climate change. In WTE facilities, the production of methane is avoided.
Creates Jobs: Currently, WTE facilities in the United States account for around 20
percent of renewable electricity generation. Also noteworthy, the Energy Recovery
Council states that an average WTE facility in the U.S. creates 58 full-time jobs with
at least 40 years of projected operation life. As such, the benefits of WTE
demonstrate how WTE can solve our waste disposal problems and at the same time
supply a renewable source of energy.
Arguments Against WTE
Waste-to-energy offers many benefits to communities.
There are concerns with respect to how WTE impacts the recycling recovery rate, or
pollution created by WTE.
References
http://swdahsv.org/benefits-of-waste-to-energy/
http://postcom.org/eco/facts.about.landfills.htm
https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/national-waste-policy/publications/fullcost-landfill-disposal-australia

http://www.cleanenergyprojects.com/Landfill-Tipping-Fees-in-USA-2013.html
http://www.brightknowledge.org/knowledge-bank/geography-andenvironment/features-and-resources/waste-to-energy-pros-and-cons
https://ocrra.org/resource-pages/resource-page-category/waste-to-energy-processand-benefits
http://ensia.com/voices/why-not-burn-waste/