Energy Cost Savings Associated with Municipal Solid Waste Recycling

Energy recovery from municipal solid waste (MSW) is attractive to state and local governments due to the economic value of the recycled materials, the energy cost savings from recycling, and the cost savings derived from reduced landfill volumes. The energy cost savings included in the study are both avoided costs from the recycling and reuse of materials and recovered energy through waste‐to‐energy conversion of MSW. This study compiles information from several sources in order to define the avoided energy costs and recovered waste‐to‐energy. The scenarios outlined in this report illustrate the projected energy savings from different programs designed to: (1) Recycle 100% of certain MSW; (2) recycle 25% of certain MSW; (3) recycle MSW to achieve maximum energy recovery; (4) recycle MSW to minimize landfill disposal and; (5) minimize landfill volumes utilized and maximize energy recovery by incineration of plastic waste. It was concluded that waste‐to‐energy conversion is necessary if energy recovery and volume minimization are to be optimized simultaneously.