ABSTRACT
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is composed primarily of organic materials and consequently has a high energy content. However, the recovery of this energy has historically been relatively inefficient, costly, and largely limited to the conversion of biodegradable fractions into methane within landfills and thermal conversion in incinerators. Over time, the efficiency of methane collection from landfills has increased because of improved operational control of emissions (e.g., bioreactor operation, horizontal and vertical gas extraction wells, and more aggressive cover systems), driven by a goal to reduce odors and greenhouse gas emissions. Energy recovery via incineration is commonly accomplished using a system of boilers and turbines or co-combustion of waste in industrial processes. The efficiency of energy recovery from high-temperature processes has also increased through control of waste composition (generating refuse-derived fuel), improved grate design, and superior heat recovery materials. This chapter will describe the historical development of energy recovery from MSW through biological and thermal processes.
