A comparative assessment of waste incinerators in the UK

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 33; no. 11; pp. 2234 - 2244
• Main Authors: Nixon, J.D., Wright, D.G., Dey, P.K., Ghosh, S.K., Davies, P.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; ASHES; AVAILABILITY; CARBON MONOXIDE; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; Energy from Waste (EfW); ENERGY RECOVERY; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Exact sciences and technology; FLUIDIZED BEDS; General treatment and storage processes; Green supply chains; HYDROGEN CHLORIDES; Incineration; Incineration - instrumentation; Incineration - standards; KILNS; MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; METALS; Municipal solid waste (MSW); MUNICIPAL WASTES; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pollution; SOLID WASTES; UNITED KINGDOM; Urban and domestic wastes; WASTE INCINERATORS; WASTE MANAGEMENT; Waste-to-energy; Wastes; United Kingdom; Europe; Municipal solid waste (MSW); Waste-to-energy; Incineration; Energy from Waste (EfW); Green supply chains; Hydrochloric acid; Waste management; Incineration plant; Cinders; Urban waste; Energy recovery; Carbon monoxide; Recycling; Pollutant emission
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.001

•We evaluate operational municipal solid waste incinerators in the UK.•The supply chain of four case study plants are examined and compared in detail.•Technical, financial and operational data has been gathered for the four plants.•We suggest the best business practices for waste incinerators.•Appropriate strategy choices are the major difficulties for waste to energy plants.
The uptake in Europe of Energy from Waste (EfW) incinerator plants has increased rapidly in recent years. In the UK, 25 municipal waste incinerators with energy recovery are now in operation; however, their waste supply chains and business practices vary significantly. With over a hundred more plant developments being considered it is important to establish best business practices for ensuring efficient environmental and operational performance. By reviewing the 25 plants we identify four suitable case study plants to compare technologies (moving grate, fluidised bed and rotary kiln), plant economics and operations. Using data collected from annual reports and through interviews and site visits we provide recommendations for improving the supply chain for waste incinerators and highlight the current issues and challenges faced by the industry. We find that plants using moving grate have a high availability of 87–92%. However, compared to the fluidised bed and rotary kiln, quantities of bottom ash and emissions of hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide are high. The uptake of integrated recycling practices, combined heat and power, and post incineration non-ferrous metal collections needs to be increased among EfW incinerators in the UK. We conclude that one of the major difficulties encountered by waste facilities is the appropriate selection of technology, capacity, site, waste suppliers and heat consumers. This study will be of particular value to EfW plant developers, government authorities and researchers working within the sector of waste management.