1. Large and Small-scale Incineration
Beat Stauffer, seecon international gmbh

2. Copy it, adapt it, use it – but acknowledge the source!
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Copy it, adapt it, use it – but acknowledge the source!
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3. Contents
Concept
How can Incineration optimise SSWM
Design Principles (large-scale)
Treatment Efficiency (large-scale)
Operation and Maintenance
Applicability
Pros and Cons
Design Principles (Small-scale)
Treatment Efficiency (Small-scale)
Operation and Maintenance (Small-scale)
Applicability (Small-scale)
Pros and Cons (Small-scale)
References

4. Is Incineration Sustainable?
1. Concept
Is Incineration Sustainable?
Large-scale incineration
Small-scale incineration
Source: WASTE INCINERATION (2010) and AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (2002)

5. Is Incineration Sustainable?
1. Concept
Is Incineration Sustainable?
In the hierarchy of integrated solid waste management, incineration is not considered as a very sustainable method.
With a highly developed system, energy recovery is possible.
The last desirable is landfilling (leaching, smouldering).
Open burning of waste must be avoided.
Source: WASTE INCINERATION (2010) and AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (2002)

6. Negative Effects of Open Burning (and Landfills)
2. How it can optimise SSWM
Negative Effects of Open Burning (and Landfills)
Heavy air pollution due to open fires or smouldering.
Source: GREENPEACE (2008)
Leachate leads to groundwater contamination.

7. Negative Effects of Open Burning (and Landfills)
2. How it can optimise SSWM
Negative Effects of Open Burning (and Landfills)
Direct inhalation of toxic substances by the local community, dump- or landfill workers.
Heavy air pollution due to open fires or smouldering.
Source: GREENPEACE (n.y.)
Accumulation of toxic substances along the food chain.
Source: GREENPEACE (2008)
Leachate leads to groundwater contamination.
Source: KLOHN and FROEHLICH (2011)

8. Controlled Incineration
2. How it can optimise SSWM
Controlled Incineration
Large-scale incinerators
Source: GREENPEACE (2008)
Small-scale incinerators

9. Controlled Incineration
2. How it can optimise SSWM
Controlled Incineration
Large-scale incinerators
No landfills necessary
No leachate
No open fires
Less air pollution
Disinfection (i.e. of medical waste)
Break down of some hazardous chemicals
Benefits of incineration
Source: GREENPEACE (2008)
Small-scale incinerators

10. Controlled Incineration
2. How it can optimise SSWM
Controlled Incineration
Large-scale incinerators
BUT
Source: GREENPEACE (2008)
Toxic flue gases
Residual ash still has to be disposed of safely
Small-scale incinerators

11. Which Incineration Technique is Affordable?
3. Design Principles
Which Incineration Technique is Affordable?
Large-scale incinerators
Small-scale incinerators
Big loads ( tons/day)
Size of waste does not matter
Waste-to-Energy
Experts for O&M
Expensive
Small loads (12 – 100 kg/hour)
Requires small-sized waste or it has to be shredded before
Can be built with local available material
Pre-fabricated products
Trained labours for O&M

12. Mass-burn Incinerator
3. Design Principles (Large-scale)
to Nr. 6
from Nr. 5
Mass-burn Incinerator
Holding area
Grabbed and dropped into a hopper
Incinerator (approx. 800 ºC), 50 to 1000 tons per day
Waste-to-Energy system (boilersteamturbine)
Collection point for heavy ash, extraction of metals
Scrubber reactor for the extracton hazardous pollutants (e.g. SO2 and dioxins)
Fine particulate removal system
Chimney
Source: BBC (2009)

13. Fluidised-bed Incinerator
3. Design Principle (Large-scale)
Fluidised-bed Incinerator
Bed of limestone or sand
Circulating or bubbling technology
Capacity of 50 to 150 tons/day
Energy recovery system applicable
The scheme of a fluidised-bed incinerator (bubbling bed). Source: EISENMANN (n.y.)

14. 3. Design Principles (Large-scale)
Modular Incinerator
Prefabricated modules, in general 1 – 4 units
Capacity of 5 to 120 tons/day and unit
Energy recovery system applicable
Used in smaller communities
1st chamber: low interior gas velocities under controlled temperature conditions
2nd chamber: completes the oxidation reactions of the combustible products
Source: UNEP (2005)

15. 3. Design Principles (Large-scale)
Sludge Incineration
Reduces the volume of dried sludge
Destroys pathogens and toxic organic chemicals
Solution if there is no land available for sludge disposal
A possible design how sewage sludge incineration can be integrated in a MSW incineration plant. Source: PUTZMEISTER (2000) and WASTEWATER SYSTEMS (n.y.)

16. 4. Treatment Efficiency (Large-scale)
Pollution Removal
Weight reduction up to 75 %.
Volume reduction up to 90 %.
Breaks down some hazardous, non-metallic organic wastes.
Destroys bacteria and viruses.
Efficient flue gas cleaning systems.
Health Aspects and Pollution
Complex air pollution control system.
Risk of environmental pollution or health risk from modern facilities are low.

17. 5. Operation and Maintenance (Large-scale)
Maintenance and servicing by trained technicians.
When incineration is done in a manner that has low adverse health and environmental impacts it is expensive.
When it is done poorly (with low financial costs) it can be expensive in terms of human health and environmental impacts.
Control room of a waste incineration plant. Source: MAUELL (n.y.)

18. 6. Applicability (Large-scale)
Where land for landfilling is scarce
Where technical know-how is available
Where capital costs as well costs for O&M can be covered
Waste incineration plant in Switzerland. Source: GEVAG (n.y.)

19. 7. Pros and Cons (Large-scale)
Advantages:
No landfills required
Substantial reduction of the weight (up to 75%) and volume (up to 90%) of solid waste
Waste-to-energy (production of electricity and heat)
Disinfection
Some hazardous chemicals are destroyed
Some precious elements (e.g. metals, phosphorus may be recovered from the ashes)
Disdvantages:
High investment, operation and maintenance costs
Risk of emissions which endanger human health and environment (gases, leaching into groundwater)
Loss of organic substances such as kitchen waste or green waste from gardening (compared to composting)

20. Low-cost Medical Waste Incinerator
8. Design Principles (Small-scale)
Low-cost Medical Waste Incinerator
Simple two-chamber incinerator
Temperatures of 800 ºC or higher
Capacity of 15 kg/hour
Locally constructed with bricks and steel components
Source: PRACTICAL ACTION (2000)

21. Pre-fabricated Products
8. Design Principles (Small-scale)
Pre-fabricated Products
Several types
Capacity of kg/hour
All kind of wastes (e.g. medical, slaughter, household waste)
In every location possible (e.g. small community, hospital, farm, truck stop)
Capacity of kg/hour
Source: INCINER8 (2004) and MAVI DENZ (n.y.)

22. 9. Treatment Efficiency (Small-scale)
Pollution Removal
Significant weight reduction and volume reduction.
Breaks down some hazardous, non-metallic organic wastes.
Destroys bacteria and viruses.
Modern designs avoid toxic emissions.
Health Aspects and Pollution
Risk of environmental pollution or health risk from are much lower than open burning of waste.
No more waste piles and backyard burning.
Operator should wear protection equipment during operation and maintenance.

23. 10. Operation and Maintenance (Small-scale)
Operator must be trained for the incinerator in use. This avoids accidents, injuries and damages.
Protection equipment during O&M is required: heat resistant gloves and boots, a respirator mask, safety goggles, clothes that cover the body and a helmet.
It is important that the incinerator reaches the optimal temperature for an optimal performance.
Regular inspection and to enlarge the life cycle and avoid damages are necessary.
Source: PATH (2010)

24. 11. Applicability (Small-scale)
It is applicable in every location for almost all kinds of waste.
It especially avoids open burning, littering in the streets and helps to make harmful (medical) waste non-toxic.
Source: HEALING TALKS (2008)
Source: GREENPEACE (2008)
Source: BARRETO (2009)

25. Example of a comparison…
12. Pros and Cons (Small-scale)
Example of a comparison…
Advantages:
No landfills required
Substantial reduction of weight and volume of solid waste
Breaks down chemical toxics and destroys pathogens (e.g. medical waste)
There are many different products in all price ranges
Disadvantages:
Risk of emissions which endanger human health and environment (flue gas)
Loss of organic substances such as kitchen waste or green waste from gardening
Risk of malfunction if operators are not instructed

26. 13. References
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (Editor) (2002): Study on Solid Waste Management Options for Africa. Abidjan: African Development Bank. URL: [ ]
BBC (Editor) (2009): Burn Baby Burn. London: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). URL: [Accessed: ]
EISENMANN (Editor) (n.y.): Waste Disposal - Eisenmann Fluidized Bed Incineration. Holzgerlingen: EISENMANN Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. URL: [ ]
GEVAG (n.y.): Fotogalerie. Untervaz: GEVAG. URL: [Accessed ]
GREENPEACE (Editor) (2008): Poisoning the poor – Electronic Waste in Ghana. Amsterdam: Greenpeace International. URL: [Accessed ]
GREENPEACE (Editor) (n.y): Children scavenging on Smokey Mountain. Amsterdam: Greenpeace International. URL: [Accessed ]
HEALING TALKS (Editor) (2011): Rise in Medical Waste – an Increasing Global Crisis. waste-an-increasing-global-crisis/ [Accessed: ]
KLOHN, A.; FROEHLICH, V. (2011): Labor entdeckt 77-mal mehr Dioxin als erlaubt. Welt Online. URL: [Accessed ]
MAUELL (n.y.): Gallery - Control Room Design. Wiltshire: Helmut Mauell Limited. URL: [Accessed ]
PATH (Editor) (2010): The Incinerator Guidebook. A Practical Guide for Selecting, Purchasing, Installing, Operating and Maintaining Small-Scale Incinerators in Low-Resource Settings. Seattle: PATH. URL: [ ]
PRACTICAL ACTION (Editor) (2000): Low-Cost Medical Waste Incinerator. Rugby: Practical Action. URL: [Accessed: ]
PUTZMEISTER (2000): Sewage Sludge Incineration with Household Rubbish. Aichtal: Putzmeister Holding GmbH. URL: [Accessed: ]
UNEP (Editor) (2005): Solid Waste Management. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). URL: [ ]
WASTEWATER SYSTEM (n.y): Wastewater Sludge Incineration Technologies. WasteWater System. URL: [Accessed: ]

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