The uptake of anaerobic digestion for the organic fraction of municipal solid waste – Push versus pull factors. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clarke, W.P.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 249(2018)
• Page Start: 1040
• Page End: 1043
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Anaerobic digestion -- OFMSW -- Economic incentives -- Landfill taxes; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.10.086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Implementation of anaerobic digestion of OFMSW worldwide is reviewed. Economic drivers for AD worldwide are reviewed. The mix of legislative and economic drivers vary widely. EU experience demonstrates landfill taxes effectively divert organics to compost. Effectiveness of landfill taxes reinforced in Australia. Abstract: There are thousands of anaerobic digestion facilities worldwide applied to agricultural waste, energy crops and industrial food processing wastes. Yet, centralised anaerobic digestion for the organic fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) is almost exclusively applied in Europe and California where diversion of organics from landfill is enforced by legislation. Even in the EU however, only 5% of OFMSW is currently digested, with most organic waste incinerated. Municipalities elsewhere are reluctant to switch to biological treatment, even when made financially preferable through mechanisms such as landfill taxes. The uptake of OFMSW anaerobic digestion around the world and the legislative and economic drivers where this has occurred are reviewed. The prime reason for lack of uptake in regions with ample economic drivers is a lack of experience of municipalities and environmental regulators in regulating both the facilities and the disposal of treated organic material to land.