MSW management strategies for the city of Rome: a comparative assessment

Abstract

Abstract:In this paper, on the basis of a detailed characterisation of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in the city of Rome, different integrated management strategies regarding both source separation of selected fractions and the treatment and disposal of the residual commingled waste were compared and discussed in terms of achievable material and energy recovery. The main findings of this study, that can be extended to other regions characterised by similar environmental policies and social and economical conditions, showed that source separation percentages cannot realistically exceed certain maximum percentages, particularly when they are addressed at selecting waste fractions for recycling. Regarding the management of the residual commingled waste, thermal treatment of all the fractions for which no further material recovery can be realistically pursued resulted the most convenient strategy in terms of recoverable thermal energy.

COVID-19 and municipal solid waste (MSW) management: a review

“…The main components of MSW paper are cardboard, card, board, regular paper, and other paper. Cardboard is categorized into packaging, non-packaging, laminated with aluminum, laminated without aluminum, and stiff cardboard materials (Bernache-Perez et al 2001 ; Lombardi et al 2010 ). Card is subdivided into liquid cartons and card (i.e., greetings cards, invitation cards, and card such as clothing and luggage tags) (Pan and Voulvoulis 2007 ).…”

Analysis of the role of the sanitary landfill in waste management strategies based upon a review of lab leaching tests and new tools to evaluate leachate production

“…In this view, the management practices that are generally adopted to achieve these objectives are reuse and recycling of specific waste fractions through source separation, other forms of material recovery from commingled waste such as mechanical separation and energy recovery from the dry and/or wet waste fractions, mainly by thermal treatment. Final disposal of waste in sanitary landfills is considered the least preferred option, which should be applied only to the residual fractions of prior treatment stages, when further recovery is deemed technically and economically unfeasible (Lombardi et al, 2010).…”

“…Hence, in order to follow the EU waste management protocol, i.e. give priority to material recovery and recycling from waste, source separation of recyclable fractions from selected production activities should be preferred instead of establishing increasingly higher (and impractical) overall source separation objectives (Lombardi et al, 2010).…”

“…Thus, regarding the management of the residual commingled waste obtained after source separation of selected MSW fractions, pre-treatment strategies aimed at achieving energy recovery and/or improving the environmental characteristics of the waste prior to its final disposal are being increasingly implemented (Lombardi et al, 2010).…”

“…MBT may be applied with or without refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production, whereas, depending on the type of treated waste, three main processes may be identified for energy recovery from MSW: direct incineration of residual MSW; thermal treatment (mainly incineration) of the dry fraction of the residual MSW, separated at the incinerator facility or in dedicated sorting plants; and thermal treatment (mainly incineration) of RDF produced at MBT facilities (Velis et al, 2012;Lombardi et al, 2010).…”