Assessing the environmental performance of waste to energy gasification : life cycle assessment

This study employs Life Circle Assessment (LCA) approach to assess and compare the environmental performance of gasification using two main input parameters: (i) Feedstock inputs (Municipal Solid Waste and Refuse Derived Fuel) and (ii) energy or electricity inputs (national grid mix and internal source). The impact indicators used for the assessment are Emission to air, emission to freshwater, valuable substance, resources and deposited goods. CML 2016 impact category was also employed to assess the impact of the inputs scenarios. The results showed that the use of RDF as the main feedstock has a fewer environmental impact as compared to unsorted or untreated Municipal Solid Waste. MSW has a higher potential of contributing to air emissions, resource depletion and emissions to freshwater as compared to RDF. Again, MSW has a higher impact on global warming, acidification, and eutrophication than RDF. Regarding the energy inputs, depending on the national grid mix has more environmental consequences than depending on the system's internal energy. The energy from the national grid mix consists of different energy sources including the burning of fossil and coal and other non-renewables which has an environmental burden on the natural environment The study, therefore, recommends the use of RDF for waste to energy gasification plants. it also recommends the self-dependency of gasification plants in terms of energy input to enhance its full environmental potential