Definition of the Subject
The goal of this entry is to establish how an integrated waste management system can be part of the solution to the emerging crises of climate change and inadequate supply of renewable energy for future generations.
Developed and emerging countries societies are consuming natural resources at an increasing rate due to consumer habits and growing population. There is international agreement that a long-term solution to the energy and climate change issues must be a low, or neutral, carbon energy supply. There is no agreement on a solution; however, most discussion focuses on solar or wind energy and even these options are opposed sometimes at a local level. Waste is a resource that, when managed correctly with commercially proven technologies, can also be a sustainable source of renewable energy and contribute to greenhouse gas mitigation.
The waste hierarchy adopted by the...
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Abbreviations
- Energy from waste (EfW):
-
Synonym of WTE used by some companies.
- Greenhouse gases (GHG):
-
Carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases contributing to the greenhouse effect.
- Integrated waste management:
-
Using a combination of all possible means of waste management so as to minimize adverse environmental impacts and optimize resource conservation.
- Waste-to-energy (WTE):
-
Recovery of the chemical energy contained in used materials by means of thermal treatment.
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Bahor, B., Van Brunt, M. (2013). Waste Management for Sustainable Society. In: Kaltschmitt, M., Themelis, N.J., Bronicki, L.Y., Söder, L., Vega, L.A. (eds) Renewable Energy Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5820-3_404
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