Mining the urban waste stream for energy : options, technological limitations, and lessons from the field

This report summarizes currently available data about waste mining in developing countries, and makes related policy recommendations. Section 1 describes the magnitude of urban waste problems, physical composition, energy content, and disposal of the waste stream, as well as waste disposal financing. Section 2 covers the range of waste-to-energy conversion technologies for developing countries, including anaerobic digestion, landfill gas utilization, large-scale composting of urban wastes, and thermal combustion of municipal solid wastes. Section 3 focuses on recent waste-to-energy trends, experience, and innovations in the developing world, including results from actual pilot scale or commercial installations, and experience of indigenous technology development versus imported technology to determine contributing factors to success or failure. Section 4 examines the evidence available on the economic feasibility of converting developing country wastes to energy. Section 5 compiles information on greenhouse gas reduction, presenting lessons learned and future strategies. Section 6 summarizes overall findings, and makes recommendations on policies that could accelerate the future production of energy from urban solid wastes in the developing world. Includes references. (Author abstract, modified)