The results of the study are reported in an executive summary, this data summary, this data summary(Volume I), the associated exhibits(volume II), and eight appendixes. The contents of these volumes are outlined below.
The executive summary briefly reviews the data on energy, emissions, and costs for the MSW technologies considered in this study. It focuses on issues that might be of interest to the general public.
This volume summarizes the results of the study in greater depth. Section 2 provides a broad overview of energy considerations for the commonly used MSW technologies and selected integrated strategies. Energy balances are provided for collection/transportation, as well as for each major technology.
Section 3 provides a similar overview of environmental releases from the more commonly used MSW technologies, as well as releases from transportation and collection of waste. The section covers air emissions, water emissions, and land area requirements for waste of residues destined for landfilling with gas recovery, mass burning, preparation and combustion of RDF, materials collection/separation, and composting. Environmental releases from remanufacturing are covered separately in this section. The section also summarizes environmental releases for some of the more common integrated strategies (e.g., curbside separation with recyclables sent to MRFs, plus mass burning of the remaining waste and landfilling of the ash).
Section 4 summarizes the data sources used in the report and describes the approach used in converting the available data to a consistent basis. It also describes the information included in the computerized data base that was developed as part of this project.
Sections 5 through 8 provide more detailed descriptions of the five major MSW management technologies: landfilling; mass burning; RDF preparation and combustion; separation and processing in an MRF and recycling; and composting. (Because of the many similarities between mass burning and RDF preparation/combustion, particularly in terms of the regulations that govern municipal waste combustion, these two technologies are covered in the same section, entitled "Combustion.") These sections summarize the current state of the technology, describe typical processes, and cover commercial status. They also provide critical data related to energy requirements and production, environmental releases, and capital and operating costs. Each section also presents an analysis of one integrated waste management strategy that includes the technology covered in the section, and lists other important integrated strategies that are covered in the data base. Each section concludes by itemizing gaps in the data and technical problems that may limit the adoption of the technology.
Section 9 provides similar information for the three less commonly used MSW management technologies: anaerobic digestion, cofiring of RDF with coal, and gasification/pyrolysis. To the extent that data are available, the section reviews technical status, commercial history, energy balances, environmental releases, costs, and data gaps for these technologies.
Section 10 summarizes important missing data for all the technologies and integrated strategies covered in the report. The section identifies instances in which the available data are insufficient to permit quantitative evaluations, at the system level, of the energy, emissions, and costs for the various technologies. Problems with individual technologies that prevent broader use of them are also discussed at the system level.
Section 11 lists all references cited in the body of this report. References found in Section 11 are cited in text by author's name and date-e.g., (Smith, 1991).
Section 12 is a glossary. In addition to defining the abbreviations used here, the glossary includes a table of conversion factors for units of measure.
Exhibits I through VII in Volume II provide more detailed data about some of the issues covered in the data summary and describe the assumptions on which calculations are based. The exhibit volume also includes a printed version of the data base described previously.
Eight appendix volumes (totaling more than 600 pages) provide detailed technology descriptions, data on existing commercial operations, and detailed technical and cost data for the waste management technologies covered in this study. References for the data sources are cited in the respective appendixes. A ninth appendix provides a list of references for all eight appendixes organized alphabetically, and a tenth lists the references in numerical order.
In addition to citations of references provided in Section 11, both this data summary volume and the exhibits cite the detailed descriptions found in the appendixes. Those citations take the form: "see Appendix A." Some references given in the collective bibliography for the appendixes are also cited in this data summary volume; those citations take the form: 1667]. The following list summarizes the citations:
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