Energy and environmental potential of solid waste in Brazil

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 39; no. 6; pp. 3496 - 3502
• Main Authors: Lino, F.A.M., Ismail, K.A.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2011; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Series: Energy Policy
• Subjects: Air pollution caused by fuel industries; Applied sciences; Biogas; Biomass energy; Brazil; carbon dioxide; Carbon emissions; CO 2 emissions; Economic data; emissions; Energy; Energy CO2 emissions Solid waste; Energy conservation; Energy economics; Energy policy; Energy resources; Energy use; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Environmental effects; Environmental impact; Exact sciences and technology; General, economic and professional studies; General. Regulations. Norms. Economy; Landfill; Landfills; Metering. Control; methane production; Municipal solid waste; Natural energy; Power generation; Recycling; Reuse; Solid waste; Solid wastes; Studies; Sustainable development; Waste management; Waste recycling; Brazil; South America; America; Energy; Solid waste; CO 2 emissions; Socioeconomic impact; Pollution prevention; Carbon dioxide; Biogas; Secondary sector; CO; Energy savings; Case study; Energy conservation; Recycling; emissions
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.03.048

The economic progress and sustainable developments are linked to the optimization and energy conservation. Conventional methods of production and energy utilization usually embed harmful environmental impacts, and hence the challenge to scientists to seek for mechanisms of energy production and use which are less harmful or better still free of unfavorable environmental impacts. Studies point out that municipal solid waste has great energy potential and its reuse, specifically the production of biogas from landfills and the recycling of solid waste presents a favorable mechanism to optimize energy use and preserve it. The present investigation includes the energy savings and the avoided emissions of CO
2 to the atmosphere as a result of recycling and production of biogas from landfills in one metropolitan with more than one million inhabitants and in Brazil. The results show that the rate of CH
4 production from the Brazilian waste landfills can avail for Brazil about 41.7
MW and the reuse of recyclables can avail to the energy system an additional quantity of 286
GJ/month enough for the consumption of 318,000 families.
► This paper highlights four fundamental and potential points of solid waste. ► Energy, environmental and social aspects of solid waste as a source of energy in Brazil. ► The use of organic matter deposited in the landfills as mechanism to generate energy from biogas. ► Recycling economizes energy, raw material, creates jobs, income and social inclusion. ► Selective collection and recycling increases the Family Grants and the social inclusion in Brazil.