TCExpression

Sweden:

WhereWaste isWealth

Sweden is the best example for creating a thriving

waste management industry. Profitable businesses

are built around recycling and re-use of waste.

99 per cent of all household waste is reused,

recycled or composted. 50% of household waste is

incinerated to produce energy. Metal is separated

from the burnt ash and recycled. Balance of the

ash with material that cannot be burnt such as

porcelain, tiles, etc., are used as gravel for road

construction.

Typically, recycling stations are within 300 metres

from any residential area. People separate all

recyclable waste in their homes and deposit it

in special containers in their block of flats or

drop it off at a recycling station. (Saves waste

transportation costs.)

There are 32 plants in Sweden that produce heat

for 810,000 households and electricity for 250,000

private houses. Heavy metal emissions have been

reduced by 99 per cent since 1985, even though

Sweden emits three times more waste today. Total

waste dumped is now reduced to just 1%. The

smoke from incineration plants consists of 99.9

per cent non-toxic carbon dioxide and water, but

is still filtered through dry filters. The dry filters

are deposited and the sludge from the dirty filter

water is used to refill abandoned mines. Now

Sweden is targeting zero waste.

Pollution management should be

in line with the city’s prescribed

pollution norms imposed by

the regulatory authority. Hence,

the entire WTE ecosystem is

a technological and scientific

process that calls for expertise to

ensure best-fit solutions.

the by-product is more likely diesel that can be used

for the transportation industry. This may be evaluated

based on the end use of the by-product, cost benefit

analysis along with the waste characteristics –

segregated or mixed waste. The consultant is also

required to evaluate the pollution management

technique used. Pollution management through the

process cycle is to be monitored and should be in line

with the city’s prescribed pollution norms imposed by

the regulatory authority. Hence, the WTE ecosystem

is a technological and scientific process that calls for

expertise to ensure best-fit solutions.

As an extension of the project, WTE is fast gaining

ground world-wide with concerns on the environment

and health hazards due to dumping. Slowly but

steadily an ecosystem around WTE is fast building up

especially in recycling and re-use. Another important

consideration is the efficiencies that can be achieved

in generating and managing the by-product – which

is energy or biofuel. Energy generation from waste

can be made a low cost option with the selection/

management of appropriate methods.