Waste-to-energy (WTE) technology is not a viable way to resolve waste management issues as it is more expensive and is likely to produce further pollutants, according to international think-tanks.
In a statement, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) said WTE technology is “one of the most environmentally harmful and costly waste disposal methods” despite only being capable of “generating minimal amounts of usable energy.”
GAIA added at present, incineration is the only known method to utilize WTE technology.
Zero Waste Asia said WTE was neither a “just” nor “transitional” source of power and urged a stop to international funding for such projects.
“The International Finance Corp. and the Asian Development Bank must stop funding WTE projects to replace coal plants positioned as a renewable source of energy… Worse, privatizing the waste sector almost always displaces waste pickers. It is urgent to phase out these false solutions,” Zero Waste Asia said.
The group said WTE can be considered worse than coal-fired power plants as its greenhouse gas emission is 2.5 times higher than coal; its emission of toxic chemical dioxin or furan is 28 times higher than coal; its emission of mercury is 14 times higher; and its emission of nitrogen oxide is 3.2 times higher.
It added WTE technology also emits nearly two times more carbon monoxide, 20 percent more sulfur dioxide and 2.5 times more carbon dioxide (CO2).
Ronald Steenblik, Sustainable Just Economic Systems (SJES) senior technical advisor, supported the groups’ appeals.
“WTE plants do reduce plastic as a physical waste but produce large amounts of CO2 emissions and depending on the sophistication of the plant, the release of toxic air pollutants,” Steenblik said.
He added residuals from burning plastics of WTE also have to be disposed of properly, citing that because of potential harm, incinerating plants in the European Union had been required to report CO2 emissions this year.
Earlier, the Department of Energy (DOE) included WTE technology for projects that can benefit with incentives in the second Green Energy Auction.
However, the DOE did not receive any bids to develop WTE.