Mechanical Biological Treatment as a Solution for Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Landfills in Thailand

Open dumping and landfilling are the two predominant waste disposal methods in Thailand. In 2009, only 23 % of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) was separated for recycling. As far as on land disposal is concerned, it has been estimated that 47 % of collected waste is being landfilled and 53 % is being openly dumped. These simple MSW management methods are causing negative socio-economic impacts, environmental pollution, and contributing to climate change; their many drawbacks are becoming increasingly recognised. Moving toward biological treatment methods is by many regarded by many as an appropriate strategy for reducing the Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the waste sector. Therefore, in this study, the GHG mitigation potential of Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) is assessed in comparison with the two most common disposal practices from a life cycle perspective. In Phitsanulok Municipality, 78 tonnes/day of MSW is treated by MBT instead of landfilling or open dumping. The MBT process consists of several steps such as unloading, homogenisation, piling, aeration, sieving and separation of compost-like materials and high-energy fractions prior to final disposal. In order to calculate life cycle GHG emissions, data was collected and analysed considering all the phases of the life cycle of the existing MSW management system, including energy and ra