Municipal solid waste utilisation for green energy in Gauteng province - South Africa : a review

This short paper discusses the potential of utilizing various municipal solids waste streams as feed stock for green energy production. These waste streams includes but not limited to mixed combustible waste, rubber and plastic waste, health care risk waste, organic biodegradable waste, biomass and sewage sludge. Technologies such as anaerobic digestion, gasification and pyrolysis have been reviewed relative to the location and waste stream quantities in the selected sample area. It was discovered that there are environmental, social and economic benefits in waste to energy approach for the waste streams reviewed. The feasibility of implementing such technologies is mainly dependent on the initial capital investment and operational cost of the facility. Other factors include the size of the waste stream, product price and demand