Life-Cycle Analysis of Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Anaerobic Biodegradation of Municipal Solid Waste
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 11
Abstract
Energy requirements and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for current landfilling of municipal solid waste (MSW) was compared to potential biodegradation of MSW in anaerobic digesters (AD) throughout the United States. A hybrid life-cycle analysis was completed to assess the potential for anaerobic biodegradation of MSW to methane, a valuable energy source. Conversion of MSW to methane in AD would generate a form of renewable energy, reduce GHG emissions, and save landfill space for nonbiodegradable materials. Based on laboratory- and pilot-scale studies conducted in the United States, full-scale data from facilities in Europe, and economic input-output life-cycle analysis, the annual 127 million t of MSW landfilled in the United States could be biologically converted to of methane. Net methane production would have an estimated value of $1.5 billion/year when converted to an equivalent amount of electricity at an assumed value of $0.1/kWh. The 15 billion kWh/year of renewable energy released through the biodegradation process is estimated to satisfy the annual consumption of 1.3 million United States households. The analysis also suggests that diversion of MSW from landfills to AD systems would result in GHG emissions reductions of 146 million t per year, due to decreased landfill activity and use of biogenic methane instead of fossil fuel for electricity production. This represents a reduction in total emissions of 1.9% compared to U.S. GHG emissions in 2006. Nationwide AD systems are projected to reduce cumulative energy consumption by nearly 15 million TJ and reduce GHG emissions by 7.2 billion t , over a 50-year period. Logistics and capital costs of developing a nationwide reactor-based system for MSW management are considerable. Development of appropriate national policy and incentives would be needed to stimulate such a transition from the current landfill-based system that currently exists. It is estimated that a carbon emissions credit on the order of $30 to $60/t would facilitate break-even economics for nationwide implementation of AD systems. Alternatively, renewable energy credits would enhance the value of electricity produced from AD biogas. Carbon emissions taxes on landfills would further improve the economics of AD systems.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writers wish to acknowledge the helpful review and comments of Constantine Samaras and anonymous reviewers.
References
Carnegie Mellon Green Design Institute. (2008). “Economic input-output life cycle assessment (EIO-LCA).” ⟨www.eiolca.net⟩ (April 16, 2007).
Chynoweth, D. P. (1992). “Global significance of biomethanogenesis.” Global Environmental Chemistry483, 338–351.
Cory, K. S., and Swezey, B. G. (2007). “Renewable portfolio standards in the states: Balancing goals and implementation strategies.” Technical Rep. No. NREL/TP-670-41409, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colo.
De Baere, L. (2000). “Anaerobic digestion of solid waste: State-of-the-art.” Water Sci. Technol., 3(41), 283–290.
De Baere, L. (2006). “Will anaerobic digestion of solid waste survive in the future?” Water Sci. Technol., 53(8), 187–194.
DiStefano, T. D., and Ambulkar, A. (2006). “Methane production and solids destruction in an anaerobic solid waste reactor due to post-reactor caustic and heat treatment.” Water Sci. Technol., 53(8), 33–41.
DiStefano, T. D., Speece, R. E., and Hnatin, M. (2004). “Evaluation of anaerobic process configuration on food waste and municipal solid waste.” Proc., 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, IWA, Montreal.
Energy Information Administration. (2009). “2005 residential energy consumption survey—Detailed tables.” ⟨http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/recs2005/c&e/summary/pdf/tableus8.pdf⟩ (Feb. 2, 2009).
Forster, P., et al. (2007). “Changes in atmospheric constituents and in radiative forcing.” Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, S. Solomon et al., eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., New York.
Hendrickson, C. T., Horvath, A., Joshi, S., and Lave, L. B. (1998). “Economic input-output models for environmental life-cycle assessment.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 32(7), 184A–191A.
Hendrickson, C. T., Lave, L. B., and Matthews, H. S. (2006). Environmental life cycle assessment of goods and services: An input-output approach, Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C.
Houghton, J. T., Meiro Filho, L. G., Callander, B. A., Harris, N., Kattenburg, A., and Maskell, K. (1996). Climate change 1995: The science of climate change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2007). “Summary for policymakers.” Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis: Summary for Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, S. Solomon et al., eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., New York.
Isaacson, H. R., Pfeffer, J. T., Mooij, P., and Gesselbracht, J. (1988). “RefCoM—Technical status, economics, and status.” Energy from biomass and wastes, XI, D. L. Klass, ed., Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, 1123–1163.
McCarty, P. (1964). “Anaerobic waste treatment fundamentals—Part I.” Public works, Sept., 107–112.
McCarty, P. L., and Smith, D. P. (1986). “Anaerobic wastewater treatment.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 20(12), 1200–1206.
Organic Waste Systems. (2003). Budgetary quotation: DRANCO pilot installation.
Organic Waste Systems. (2008). “SORDISEP technology.” ⟨http://www.ows.be/pages/index.php?menu=85&submenu=121&choose_lang=EN⟩ (Jan. 20, 2009).
Pfeffer, J. T. (1974a). “Reclamation of energy from organic refuse” Final Rep. EPA-R-800776, U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C.
Pfeffer, J. T. (1974b). “Temperature effects on anaerobic fermentation of domestic refuse.” Biotechnol. Bioeng., 16(6), 771–787.
Research and Innovative Technology Administration. (2009). “National transportation statistics. Table 4-14: Combination truck fuel consumption and travel.” ⟨http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_04_14.html⟩ (January 2009).
Speece, R. E. (1983). “Anaerobic biotechnology for industrial wastewater treatment.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 17(9), 416A–427A.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2007). “Service annual survey: NAICS 48/49 transportation and warehousing industry summary.” ⟨http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/services/sas/sas_data/sas48.htm⟩ (Jan. 10, 2009).
U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). “Service annual survey: NAICS 56 administrative and support and waste management and remediation services.” ⟨http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/services/sas/sas_data/sas56.htm⟩ (Jan. 31, 2009).
U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2009). “Consumer price index.” ⟨ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/cpi/cpiai.txt⟩ (Jan. 10, 2009).
U.S. EPA. (2006). Solid waste management and greenhouse gases: A life-cycle assessment of emissions and sinks, 3rd Ed., U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C.
U.S. EPA. (2007). “Combined heat and power partnership.” Biomass Combined Heat and Power Catalog of Technologies, Report Prepared by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., and ICF International Company, and Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
U.S. EPA. (2009). “Landfill methane outreach program (LMOP).” ⟨http://www.epa.gov/outreach/lmop/index.htm⟩ (Jan. 10, 2009).
U.S. EPA, Office of Atmospheric Programs. (2008). Inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks: 1990–2006: EPA 430-R-08-005, U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C.
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste. (2008). Municipal solid waste in the United States: 2007 facts and figures, EPA530-R-08-010, U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C.
Vandevivere, P., De Baere, L., and Verstraete, W. (2003). “Types of anaerobic digester for solid wastes.” Biomethanization of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, IWA, London.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 19, 2008
Accepted: Apr 16, 2009
Published online: Oct 15, 2009
Published in print: Nov 2009
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.