Review of waste-to-energy generation technologies from urban solid waste in Costa Rica (#1964)

Authors

Solís-Calvo, Juan Luis

Guillén-Murillo, Erick

Alpízar-Castillo, Joel

Abstract

Solid waste management is a problem in Costa Rica. Multiple possible solutions have been proposed; however, the Costa Rican society's lifestyle requires more efficient methods with less environmental impact. This work evaluated incineration, gasification, plasma gasification and pyrolysis as waste-to-energy generation solutions in Costa Rica. Eleven quantitative and qualitative criteria are proposed, including economic, energy, environmental elements, solid waste management and technology byproducts. In cases where a direct relationship or comparison was not established, an indirect relationship or comparison was established based on information between the technologies. Given the available waste and caloric value, plasma gasification had optimal electrical generation capacity and applicability results. Additionally, the plant required the smallest installation area, with fewer environmental pollutants emissions and the best waste reduction capacity, the latter being a particular characteristic that puts it first in the face of the problem and solution in eliminating landfills and landfills. This would free up large areas of land, in addition to the great benefit that it would mean for the environment to eliminate large amounts of waste that would take many years to disintegrate.