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Uncover Cost-Benefit Disparity of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration in Chinese Provinces

Author

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  • Shitong Yu

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China)

  • Huijuan Dong

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China)

Abstract

Incineration has been regarded as a promising method to respond to municipal solid waste (MSW) challenges. However, its high cost and health impacts are the main barriers to the development of incineration. This study aims to investigate the cost-benefit of MSW incineration in 31 Chinese provinces to identify the regional disparity of incineration policy in China. Life cycle environmental impacts and costs were analyzed using the life cycle assessment software Gabi 8.0 and method CML-2001. Results show that MSW disposal costs, Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Eutrophication Potential (EP) will decline significantly with the increase in incineration rate for all Chinese provinces, while the environmental impacts of Human Toxicity Potential (HTP), Ozone Layer Depletion Potential (OLDP) and Terrestric Ecotoxicity Potential (TETP) increase the trend. Economically developed and populated provinces such as Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shandong have both a higher incineration volume and incineration potential. As for the cost-benefit analysis, developed provinces such as Guangdong, Chongqing, Shanghai and Tianjin exhibit the highest cost-benefit in toxic impacts of HTP, TETP and ODP. Northern provinces such as Jilin, Xinjiang, Heilongjiang and Hebei have the lowest cost-benefit in toxic impacts but have the highest cost-benefit in GWP and EP. Finally, policy remarks on incineration cost, priority provinces, integration of sorting and incineration are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Shitong Yu & Huijuan Dong, 2020. "Uncover Cost-Benefit Disparity of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration in Chinese Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:697-:d:310204
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dong, Jun & Chi, Yong & Zou, Daoan & Fu, Chao & Huang, Qunxing & Ni, Mingjiang, 2014. "Energy–environment–economy assessment of waste management systems from a life cycle perspective: Model development and case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 400-408.
    2. He, Jiaxin & Lin, Boqiang, 2019. "Assessment of waste incineration power with considerations of subsidies and emissions in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 190-199.
    3. Cherubini, Francesco & Bargigli, Silvia & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2009. "Life cycle assessment (LCA) of waste management strategies: Landfilling, sorting plant and incineration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 2116-2123.
    4. Eriksson, Ola & Finnveden, Goran & Ekvall, Tomas & Bjorklund, Anna, 2007. "Life cycle assessment of fuels for district heating: A comparison of waste incineration, biomass- and natural gas combustion," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 1346-1362, February.
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