1

Master of Science in Energy Engineering for an Environmentally Sustainable World

BIO-ENERGY AND WASTE-TO-ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES (ed. 2014)
Waste management: an introduction
Ing. Mario GROSSO Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering (DICA)
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9
Course description
Major focus: environmental and engineering aspects
in the field of energy production systems
from biomass and waste products
Lecture contents organisation:
general perspective on raw materials applicable as feedstock in bio-
energy and waste-to-energy systems
different types and routes for biomass and waste derived fuels and
energy
process and engineering aspects of direct and indirect energy
production from biomass and waste derived fuels (thermochemical,
mechanical and biological conversion routes)
energy and environmental balance of the different system routes
within life-cycle assessment approaches (LCA)
economic aspects
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Learning objectives
# 1 to understand the framework of energy recovery from waste and
biomass (strategies, legislation)
# 2 to learn the most important processes for energy and fuels
production from waste and biomass
# 3 to design some energy conversion systems (WTE plant, anaerobic
digestion plant, SRF production plant,...)
# 4 to critically assess alternative options for energy recovery, based
on energy balances, environmental assessment, economic
considerations
A field visit will be organised: hopefully a new biorefinery, or a
Waste-To-Energy and/or anaerobic digestion plant (May-June)
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Lecturers
Mario GROSSO (Responsible)
DICA Environmental Section
Specialist in waste management and treatment
Federico VIGANO
Department of Energy
Specialist in energy
conversion - waste
Lucia RIGAMONTI
DICA Environmental Section
Specialist in LCA of waste and biomass systems
Emanuele MARTELLI
Department of Energy
Specialist in energy
conversion - biomass
Elena FICARA
DICA Environmental Section
Specialist in biological treatments
Tommaso LUCCHINI
Department of Energy
Specialist in biofuels
production
Laura BIGANZOLI
DICA Environmental Section
Teaching assistant
3
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Course schedule and format
We will have lectures always in classroom F:
Mon, 13.15 16.15
Wed, 13.15 16.15
Fri, 10.15 12.15
Most of the times there will be lectures (total about 60 hours)
Sometimes there will be precepts (total about 20 hours)
Precepts focuses on the solution of problems which show the
application of the concepts presented in the lectures
Slides and all relevant information are available in the
course website: http://beep.metid.polimi.it
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Requirements and grading (1)
Written mid-term exam in May on the topics presented during
the first two months:
Time: 1h 30
2 problems +2 open questions
Written final exam:
2 dates in J une-J uly
1 date in September
Composed of:
Part A: the same topics covered by the mid-term exam;
Time: 1h
1 problem +2 open questions
Part B: all the remaining topics;
Time: 1h
1 problem +2 open questions
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Requirements and grading (2)
With a positive result (18+/30) in the mid-term exam:
One is excepted to take only part B of the final exam (J une, J uly and
September dates)
Upon achievement of a positive result (18+/30) in part B, the final grade
will be given 50% by that of the mid-term exam and 50% by that of the
final exam part B
Otherwise one must take the full final exam
The result of the mid-term exam will be lost after September 2013 or
once one takes the part A of a final exam
Another date for the full exam will be set in J anuary-February 2014
(only a full exam can be taken)
In all written exams (mid-term and final):
No book, notes, cell phone, laptop, tablet is allowed
Answers to open questions must be as brief as possible and fit within the
given space
An oral exam can be arranged upon achievement of a positive grade
in the written exams: it can change the final score by 2/30
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Course materials and contacts
No official text book exists for this course
Notes for all the lectures will be posted in advance on the
course website
On the course website you will find full contact details for all the
teaching team members
A suggested comprehensive textbook for the waste
management and LCA issues is:
Thomas H. Christensen (Editor) Solid Waste Technology &
Management, 2011, WILEY
http://beep.metid.polimi.it
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Introduction to waste management and
energy recovery
1. Waste definition
2. Legislation applicable to waste
3. Waste production and collection
4. Introduction to the integrated waste management
5. Options for energy recovery from waste
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Waste definition general
waste means any substance or object which the holder
discards or intends or is required to discard (EU Directive
2008/98, Art. 3)
A waste can be hazardous when it displays one or more of the
hazardous properties listed in Annex III
We distinguish between:
Municipal waste (collected from private households and similar
activities)
Industrial waste
Construction and demolition waste (C&D)
Agricultural waste
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Waste definition the European List of Wastes
All waste types generated in the EU are grouped into 20 major
categories, based on their origin and characteristics
The different types of waste in the List are fully defined by a six-
digit code, with two digits each for chapter, sub-chapter and waste
type
The List is used to categorize items and substances when they
become waste, but does not itself define items and substances as
waste
Example
20 00 00 chapter Municipal wastes (household waste and similar
commercial, industrial and institutional wastes) including
separately collected fractions
20 01 00 sub-chapter Separated collection
20 01 02 glass separately collected
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Waste definition the European List of Wastes
01 Wastes resulting from exploration, mining, quarrying, physical and chemical treatment of minerals
02 Wastes from agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, hunting and fishing, food preparation and
processing
03 Wastes from wood processing and the production of panels and furniture, pulp, paper and cardboard
04 Wastes from the leather, fur and textile industries
05 Wastes from petroleum refining, natural gas purification and pyrolytic treatment of coal
06 Wastes from inorganic chemical processes
07 Wastes from organic chemical processes
08 Wastes from the manufacture, formulation, supply and use of coatings, adhesives, sealants and printing inks
09 Wastes from the photographic industry
10 Wastes from thermal processes
11 Wastes from chemical surface treatment and coating of metals and other materials
12 Wastes from shaping and physical and mechanical surface treatment of metals and plastics
13 Oil wastes and wastes of liquid fuels (except edible oils, 05 and 12)
14 Waste organic solvents, refrigerants and propellants (except 07 and 08)
15 Waste packaging; absorbents, wiping cloths, filter materials and protective clothing not otherwise specified
16 Wastes not otherwise specified in the list
17 Construction and demolition wastes (including excavated soil from contaminated sites)
18 Wastes from human or animal health care and/or related research
19 Wastes from waste management facilities, off-site waste water treatment plants and the preparation of water
intended for human consumption and water for industrial use
20 Municipal wastes including separately collected fractions
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Waste definition the European List of Wastes
Procedure to assign the ELW code
CODE 99
(Wastes not otherwise specified)
Look for the activity which originates
the waste in chapters
01-12 and 17-20
CODE
YES
transversal chapters 13, 14,
15
YES
NO
NO
Look in chapt. 16 (Wastes
not otherwise specified in
the list)
YES
NO
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Waste definition in Italy
According to the Italian law (Decree 152/06 and subsequent
modifications and integrations) a slightly different definition applies:
Based on the origin: Municipal waste vs. special waste
Based on the characteristics: hazardous vs. non-hazardous
waste
All four combinations apply!
8
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The waste hierarchy according to the
2008/98/EC Directive (Art. 4)
S
o
u
r
c
e
:

h
t
t
p
:
/
/
w
w
w
.
s
e
p
a
.
o
r
g
.
u
k
When applying the waste hierarchy, Member States shall take measures to
encourage the opti ons that del i ver the best overal l envi ronmental outcome.
This may require speci fi c waste streams departi ng from the hi erarchy where
this is justified by l i fe-cycl e thi nki ng on the overall impacts of the generation and
management of such waste.
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Waste production in the world
S
o
u
r
c
e
:

C
y
c
l
O
p
e
Estimated world waste productionand collectionfor 2006
9
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Waste production in the world
Per capita waste production
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Waste production in the world
Waste
production
vs.
GDP
10
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Municipal waste production in the EU
S
o
u
r
c
e
:

E
E
A
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Municipal waste production in the EU
S
o
u
r
c
e
:

E
E
A
11
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Municipal waste production in Italy
Per capita yearly (kg)
400
420
440
460
480
500
520
540
560
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
452
462
466
492
501
516
521
524
533
539
550
546
541
532 536
528
504
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Municipal waste production in Italy
GDP
Household expenditure
Municipal waste production
12
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Source separation of waste definition
100 (%)

i
SS i
i
i
R RW SS
SS
SS
Where:

i
i
SS = sum of the different waste fractions that make the overall source
separation, excluding the selection residues
= unsorted residual waste
RW
R
SS
= residues from SS selection operations
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Source separation of waste in Italy
13
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Source separation of waste in Italy
Organic
fraction
Paper Glass Plastic Metals Wood EEEW
Bulky
waste
Textile Selective Other
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Waste management in Italy (year 2011)
Landfill
42,1%
Composting
10,3%
MBT
1,2%
Incineration
16,9%
Energy recovery
1,8%
Anaerobic digestion
1,3%
Recycling
22,8%
Other
3,6%
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Waste management in Italy (historical trend)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
Landfill Incineration MBT Composting Energy
recovery
Dry fraction
Campania
Anaerobic
digestion
Recycling
1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
2008 2009
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Total
MW
THEORETICAL
LANDFILL
REQUIREMENT
Source
Separation
5% of source
separation
(SS redidues)
incinerated
waste
20% of incinerated
waste
(incineration residues)
waste treated in
MBT plants
40% of waste
treated in MBT
plants
What is the true amount of waste disposed in landfills?
Source: ONR, 2005
From 53.5% (16*10
6
t) ...to 64.6% (19.4*10
6
t)
Municipal waste disposal in Italy
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Municipal waste vs. total waste production
in Italy (year 2005)
Municipal
23%
Special non
hazardous
40%
Special
hazardous
4%
Inert
33%
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The case of Lombardia Region (1995-2003)
Municipal waste disposal in Italy
Landfill
Pre-treatment
Incineration
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Source: ISPRA Eurostat, 2013
The situation in Europe
Per capita
municipal waste
landfill disposal
in the EU
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Source: ISPRA Eurostat, 2013
The situation in Europe
Per capita
municipal waste
incinerationin
the EU
17
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Source: ISPRA Eurostat, 2013
The situation in Europe
Per capita
municipal waste
recyclingin the
EU
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Source: ISPRA Eurostat, 2013
The situation in Europe
Per capita
municipal waste
compostingin
the EU
18
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From landfill to
recovery: common
target, different
routes
Source: EEA, 2007
The situation in Europe
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Source: Eurostat, 2007
The situation in Europe
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MSW
Iron, Aluminium
Glass, Paper,
Wood, Plastic
RECYCLING
WTE PLANT (MASS BURN
OR GASIFICATION)
SOURCE
SEPARATION
COMPOSTING
Separated
material
URW
MULTI-MATERIAL
SEPARATION AND
SELECTION OF
EACH MATERIAL
Selected
packaging
materials
ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION
CEMENT KILN
OFMSW
Green
OFMSW
MBT
Integrated waste management scenarios:
conceptual approach
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MSW
Iron, Aluminium
Glass, Paper,
Wood, Plastic
RECYCLING
WTE PLANT (MASS BURN
OR GASIFICATION)
SOURCE
SEPARATION
COMPOSTING
Separated
material
URW
MULTI-MATERIAL
SEPARATION AND
SELECTION OF
EACH MATERIAL
Selected
packaging
materials
ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION
Separation
and selection
residues
Recycling
residues
(paper, wood
and plastic)
CEMENT KILN
LANDFILL
Recycling
residues (iron
and aluminium)
Slag and
ash
OFMSW
Green
OFMSW
MBT
Integrated waste management scenarios:
conceptual approach
20
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MSW
Iron, Aluminium
Glass, Paper,
Wood, Plastic
RECYCLING
WTE PLANT (MASS BURN
OR GASIFICATION)
SOURCE
SEPARATION
COMPOSTING
Separated
material
URW
MULTI-MATERIAL
SEPARATION AND
SELECTION OF
EACH MATERIAL
Selected
packaging
materials
Recycled materials: displacement of
primary products
Compost + energy: displacement
of peat and mineral fertilisers, and of
fossil fuels
ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION
Compost: displacement of peat
and mineral fertilisers
Separation
and selection
residues
Recycling
residues
(paper, wood
and plastic)
CEMENT KILN
Energy: displacement
of fossil fuels
LANDFILL
Recycling
residues (iron
and aluminium)
Petcoke
displacement
Slag and
ash
OFMSW
Green
OFMSW
MBT
To recovery
Integrated waste management scenarios:
conceptual approach
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Waste-to-energy options
From residual waste
From selected waste
streams
Anaerobic digestion
Sorting and recycling
residues
Mass burn combustion
Co-combustion
Mass burn combustion
(incineration)
Pre-treatment (MBT)
to obtain SRF
Co-combustion
Gasification
Fluidised bed
combustion
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Waste-to-energy: often a difficult
relationship with the population
Waste management in general, and energy recovery in
particular, is a common target of population protest
Waste incineration plants are on the top of the list
NIMBY syndrome
People are often opposing also lighter installations (ex.
composting plants due to odours)
Opposition to door to door collection systems!
In general waste management is perceived as an easy target
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Recent trends in waste management
Diversion from landfill (1999/31 EU Directive)
Waste prevention
Increased recycling of packaging materials
Source separation of kitchen waste and its anaerobic
digestion for biogas production
High efficiency in energy recovery from WTE plants
A sound waste management can contribute to
the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions
22
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Recent trends in waste management
Source: Waste opportunities Past and future climate benefits from better municipal waste
management in Europe ( EEA, 2011)
Net emission reductions from MSW management in the EU in 2008 and 2020 compared to 1995
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Recent trends in waste management
Source: Waste opportunities Past and future climate benefits from better municipal waste
management in Europe ( EEA, 2011)
Modelled GHG emissions from MSW management in the EU business-as-usual scenario
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Recent trends in waste management
Source: Waste opportunities Past and future climate benefits from better municipal waste
management in Europe ( EEA, 2011)
Net emissions (kg CO2-equivalent) per treatment option for one tonne of kitchen and garden waste
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Some references on Waste-to-energy
CEWEP Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy plants
Technical data on European WTE plants
Energy efficiency report
European Environmental Agency EEA
Waste statistics at the EU level
OECD
Eurostat
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Waste characteristics
Waste composition
Proximate analysis
Elemental analysis
Calorific value
Biogenic and biodegradable fractions
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Waste composition
Characterisation of waste
Major limitation representativeness of the sample:
intrinsic heterogeneity
geographical variability
seasonal variability
daily variability (ex. rainy days)
Methodologies for assessing waste composition:
CNR method (National Research Council)
IPLA method
CITEC guidelines
other international methods
25
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Waste composition
Waste composition (8 major fractions)
Cellulosic materials
paper, cardboard
Textile and wood
textiles (garments, fabric, etc.)
wood
Plastic and rubber
rigid (PET, HDPE, PVC)
film (LDPE, PP)
rubber and thermosetting plastic
Metals
ferrous (steel, cast iron, iron scraps)
non ferrous (aluminium, copper, stainless steel, others)
Glass and inert
glass
other inert (ceramics, stones, rubble)
Organic material
kitchen waste
garden waste (green)
Hazardous municipal waste
batteries
drugs,....
Fines
Everything smaller than 20 mm (mainly organic material and inert)
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Waste composition
Focus is on the composition of:
unsorted residual waste (URW) direct analysis at the gate
of the recovery/disposal plants (incinerators, MBT, landfills)
gross waste (GW) to be calculated (estimated) according
to the existing type and level of source separation (SS)
MSW
(GW)
SOURCE SEPARATION
Separated materials
URW
26
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Waste composition
Gross waste
% ww Western central
Europe
Southern
Europe
Eastern
Europe
Kitchen waste 22 35 33
Garden waste 10 6 2
Paper 16 14 13
Cardboard 8 7 6
Plastic 10 11 10
Glass 9 7 10
Ferrous metal 2.25 2.25 2.25
Aluminum 0.75 0.75 0.75
Textile 2 2 3
Wood 5 5 5
Diapers 5 4 4
Battery 0.2 0.2 0.2
Fines (< 20 mm) 9.8 5.8 10.8
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2000s
Historical evolution in Italy (gross waste)
80s
3%
20%
4%
8%
7%
18%
40%
sottovaglio
carta e
cartone
tessili e
legno
plastica
metalli
inerti
organico -
altro
4%
29%
6%
14%
8%
10%
29%
Waste composition
fines
paper +
cardboard
textile +
wood
plastic
metals
inert
Organic
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Waste
composition
analysis
CNR METHOD
Selection of the sample
and weighting
3000 4000 kg
Cake preparation and
quartering
Sample for the manual
sorting
200 150 kg
Manual sorting of waste
fractions
Weighting of each waste
fraction
Calculation of the waste
composition
(in weight percentage)
Bulky waste
separation
Bulky waste
quantity calculation Sampling for
chemical analysis
Sample preparation
for the chemical
analysis
1 2 kg
Waste composition
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Quartering
method
Waste composition
Waste
composition
analysis
CNR METHOD
First quartering
Second quartering
KEEP
KEEP DISCARD
DISCARD
DISCARD DISCARD
DISCARD
DISCARD
DISCARD
DISCARD
KEEP
KEEP
KEEP
KEEP
ANALYSIS
Height: 60 cm
Weight: 3-4 t
Height: 30 cm
Weight: 1.5-2 t
Height: 25 cm
Weight: 750-800 kg
Height: 25 cm
Weight: 350-400 kg
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Waste composition
Waste
composition
analysis
CNR METHOD
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A size distribution analysis must be performed as the
first step:
< 20 mm
20 mm < < 50 mm
> 50 mm
bulky waste
CITEC guidelines
Waste composition
29
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On each size fraction:
< 20 mm
20 mm < < 50 mm
> 50 mm
bulky waste
Full waste composition analysis
Moisture of each fraction
total solids and moisture
volatile solids
leaching test (Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu, Cd, As)
Number and types of items
Evaluation of recovery options
Basic waste composition analysis
(cellulosic materials, metals, kitchen
waste, plastic, inert)
LHV, moisture
Waste composition
CITEC guidelines
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Specific weight (SW)
Depends on waste compaction
fresh waste plastic bags: 150 -200 kg m
-3
Compacted waste in landfill: 600 -800 kg m
-3
Relevant for:
* waste collection and transfer
* waste storage
) (m volume Occupied
(kg) Weight
) m ( W
3
3 -
kg S
Waste characteristics
30
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Waste characteristics proximate analysis
W
e
i
g
h
t
l
o
s
s
;

T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
Time
25C
105C
900C
N
2 O
2
Moisture
Volatile
solids
Fixed
carbon
Ash
Moisture (H
2
O content): 105C, 24 h
Volatile solids: 950C, 7 min
Fixed carbon: combustible residue
Ash: non combustible residue
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% weight Residual
waste
Dry fraction RDF/SRF
C 28.09 36.81 41.9
H 3.72 4.81 5.83
S 0.16 0.19 0.07
O 21.18 20.69 20
Moisture 23.69 25 20
Ash 23.16 12.5 12.2
TOTAL 100 100 100
Waste characteristics elemental analysis
31
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Fraction C
% dm
H
% dm
O
% dm
N
% dm
S
% dm
Ash
% dm
H
2
O
%
LHV
kJ kg
-1
Paper 44.80 6.00 43.30 0.24 0.16 5.50 15.00 12100
Cardboard 43.85 6.00 45.00 0.25 0.20 4.70 12.50 13100
Textile 52.00 6.30 35.83 3.20 0.17 2.50 20.00 14200
Wood 50.00 6.00 42.32 0.20 0.08 1.40 22.00 13800
Plastic 61.60 8.50 17.40 2.30 0.20 10.00 6.00 28300
Rubber 81.20 9.00 0.00 0.90 0.90 8.00 2.00 20800
Glass and inert 3.00 0.40 0.40 0.15 0.05 96.00 2.50 0
Metals 4.50 0.60 4.28 0.07 0.05 90.50 4.00 0
Kitchen waste
from household
48.00 6.00 34.00 2.18 0.32 9.50 70.00 2100
Green waste 47.00 6.20 37.72 2.85 0.23 6.00 50.00 6000
Kitchen waste
from large users
48.00 6.17 34.10 2.40 0.33 9.00 70.00 2100
Fines 26.35 5.50 30.50 2.50 0.15 35.00 30.00 5400
Waste characteristics elemental analysis
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Amount of heat (kcal or kJ ) released from the complete stoichiometric oxidation of one mass
unit (kg), carried out at well defined temperature (T) and pressure (p).
Normal conditions: T=0C ; p=1 atm
HHV = LHV + heat of evaporation of water in the flue gas
HHV > LHV HHV > LHV always! always!
Water (steam) in the flue gas:
waste moisture U (% weight)
combustion water hydrogen (H) oxidation
H
2
+ 1/2 O
2
H
2
O
2 kg H 18 kg H
2
O
Combustion water = 9 kg/kg H
latent heat 2500 kJ /kg H
2
O @ 25C and 1 atm
LHV = HHV 2500 * (U + 9H)
Waste characteristics calorific value
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Calorific value
Mahler bomb calorimeter
Waste characteristics calorific value
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Mahler bomb calorimeter:
3-4 g of dry sample
size < 1 mm
at least 5 repetitions for each sample
HHV on a dry
basis (DHHV)
HHV = DHHV * (1 M)
DLHV = DHHV 2500*9H*(1 M)
-1
LHV = DLHV * (1 M) 2500 * M
LHV = DHHV * (1 M) 2500 * (M + 9H)
LHV = HHV 2500 * (M + 9H)
M = moistureof waste
H = hydrogencontent of waste
Waste characteristics calorific value
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Summary of calorific values
Acr. U. M. Water in flue gas Notes
Dry higher
heating value
DHHV kJ kg
dm
-1
Liquidphase
(combustion H
2
O)
Measured with the
Mahler bomb
Higher heating
value
HHV kJ kg
-1
Liquidphase
(combustion H
2
O)
-
Dry lower
heating value
DLHV kJ kg
dm
-1
Vapour phase
(combustion H
2
O)
-
Lower heating
value
LHV kJ kg
-1
Vapour phase
(combustion H
2
O +
moisture in waste)
Utilised when
designing
combustion plants
Waste characteristics calorific value
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Fraction LHV
dry
kcal kg
-1
dm
MJ kg
-1
dm
Plastic and rubber 7500 31
Textiles wood 4000 17
Paper and cardboard 3700 15
Green waste 3000 12
Kitchen waste 1500 6,2
Fines 1400 5,8
Metals 0 0
Glass and inerts 0 0
Calorific value of waste fractions
Waste characteristics calorific value
34
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MJ kg
-1
Coal 25.1
Natural gas (methane) 48.1
Fuel oil 39.7
Diesel fuel 42.6
Wood 12.5
Waste
Municipal residual waste ( RW) 10-12.5
Dry fraction 11.5-15
SRF 15-20
Comparison with conventional fuels
Waste characteristics calorific value
M. Grosso
Biodegradability and renewability
Biodegradable material: the one that undergoes aerobic or anaerobic
biologic decomposition in natural conditions
this affects its treatment (suitable for biological treatments)
Biogenic material: that produced from living organisms in natural
processes, but not deriving from fossilisation
this affects the global warming issue(CO
2
- neutral when
degraded under aerobic conditions)
Biomass: material of recent biogenic origin, thus excluding that stored
in geological formation or fossilised
BORDERLINE SITUATIONS
wood rich in lignin is a biomass but has a slow biodegradability
biodegradable plastic is quickly biodegradable despite being not a
biomass
Waste characteristics biogenic and
biodegradable fractions
35
M. Grosso
Assessment of the biogenic fraction of waste
(Ref.: prEN 15440:2008)
1. Selective dissolution method: acid attack (H
2
SO
4
) in an wet oxidising
environment. It is assumed that only the biogenic fraction is converted
to CO
2
(with some exceptions!)
2. Manual selection method: waste composition analysis (14 fractions),
each of them associated to a specific category: biogenic, fossil, inert
3. Mass and energy balance method: numerical solution of a system with
5 mass balance and 1 energy balance equations, with 4 unknowns
(over-determined system): inert mass fraction (mI), biogenic mass
fraction (mB), fossil mass fraction (mF) and water mass fraction (mW)
4. Radiocarbon method (
14
C): sample combustion, followed by the
analysis of C isotopes in the flue gas;
14
C to
12
C ratio is related to the
age of material (method used for dating)
Waste characteristics biogenic and
biodegradable fractions
M. Grosso
Source: J RC, Supporting
Environmentally Sound
Decisions for Bio-waste
Management (2010)
BIODEGRADABLE WASTE: any
wastethat can undergo aerobic or
anaerobic decomposition, such as
kitchen waste, green waste,
cellulosic material
BIOWASTE: biodegradable waste
from gardens and parks, kitchen
waste from household, canteens,
street markets, as well as similar
waste from food processing plants
Waste characteristics biodegradable waste
vs. bio-waste
36
M. Grosso
Material
recovery
Combustibility Biodegradability Renewability
(biogenic)
Hazardous
ness
Plastic and
rubber
Yes
(partially)
Yes No No No
Textile wood Yes Yes Poor Yes No
Paper and
cardboard
Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Organic Yes No Yes Yes No (*)
Fines No No Partial Partial Partial
Metals Yes No No - Yes
Glass Yes No No - No
Haz. No No No - Yes
Summary of the characteristics of each waste fraction
(*) but easily contaminated
Waste characteristics summary