Disposal of British Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Continental Europe

The developed conditions were the deposition of MSW at a UK landfill facility, the treatment of MSW at a UK incineration plant (with electricity generation and partial thermal energy recovery) and the pre-treatment, export and thermal treatment of waste at an exemplary waste-to-energy plant in continental Europe (with different means of transport and with average electricity generation and thermal energy recovery). From an environmental point of view this study shows, on the one hand, that the transboundary transport of MSW from the UK to mainland Europe has a minor contribution to the total emissions. On the other hand, with a thermal treatment of MSW, in addition to the treatment of waste, an electricity generation is given which supplies local households and businesses, and heat is extracted for district heating. Thus the total emissions balance can be positive so that emissions are saved under the developed conditions.