Emissions From Waste-to-Energy: A Comparison With Coal-Fired Plants

Nationwide data of the emissions from waste-to-energy and coal-fired power plants arecompared. The emissions of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and trace elements, such as cadmium, lead and mercury are compared, both in terms of thermal energy input and electrical energy output. The results of the study have shown that emissions of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides were lower from waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities than from coal-fired plants. Hydrogen chloride emissions are higher in WTE flue gases. Emissions of cadmium, lead and mercury from WTE and coal-fired plants are nearly the same.