In this research paper, the actual situation of refuse derived fuel (RDF) in the world, with a special emphasis on Japan, was studied. Focus was placed on describing both the environmental and economic evaluation of RDF. Actual data for the production of RDF was obtained in the case of Japan. This data was used in a theoretical model to carry out a simulation analysis on the possibility of applying technology, that was partly developed in Japan, for the production of RDF plants and RDF itself, to the Canadian situation, using the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) as a Canadian representative city. As a result of the calculations for the simulation, it was determined that at least two types of social benefit may arise if RDF plants were constructed in Canada for the purpose of producing RDF. First, it was determined that by the construction of RDF plants and subsequent production of RDF, there could be a drastic reduction in the amount of CO
2 that is released to the atmosphere and thereby partially mitigate the greenhouse effect. Second, there may be a social benefit due to the reduction in the amount of waste that goes to the landfills thus lengthening the life of those landfills. In addition, it is expected, as show by calculations, that the expenses related to overall waste treatment for GVRD can be greatly reduced by the construction of an RDF plant and the subsequent production of RDF itself.
View full abstract