Effects of Sorted Collections and Other Measures to Control Waste Volume and Composition in the Incineration Treatment Process

Abstract

In Japan, incineration treatment has played a major role in ensuring appropriate disposal of the rapidly increasing volumes of municipal solid wastes (MSW). There is a trend for the amounts and material compositions of the MSW heading for incineration to change according to the various sorting systems put into place for waste collection. In response to this trend, we analyzed those changes noticed in the volume and material composition of waste in local municipalities that had previously introduced sorted collections, and produced statistical data on the effect of sorting on MSW for incineration. Our findings suggest that in the next ten years, the amount of MSW for incineration will decrease by around 20% while its material composition will show a decrease in combustibles. Calorific value, however, will show a more limited decrease to around 8000kJ⁄kg.