Unit 10: Future of Waste-to-Energy Conversion.
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Waste-to-Energy Conversion course at London School of Business and Administration. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Anaerobic Digestion #
a series of biological processes where microorganisms break down organic materials in the absence of oxygen, resulting in the production of biogas (a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide) and digestate (a nutrient-rich fertilizer).
Ash #
the non-combustible material remaining after the combustion of waste in a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility. It can be further classified into bottom ash and fly ash.
Bottom Ash #
the non-combustible material that falls to the bottom of the combustion chamber in a WTE facility.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) #
a technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes, including WTE facilities, and stores it underground to prevent its release into the atmosphere.
Circular Economy #
an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. It is characterized by three principles: design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.
Combustion #
the process of burning organic materials in the presence of oxygen to produce heat and, in the case of WTE facilities, electricity.
Digestate #
the nutrient-rich fertilizer produced during anaerobic digestion.
Energy from Waste (EfW) #
a process that converts waste into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through various technologies, including incineration, anaerobic digestion, and gasification.
Fly Ash #
the fine, non-combustible particles that are carried away by the flue gases in a WTE facility and collected by air pollution control devices.
Gasification #
a thermochemical process that converts organic materials into a gas mixture (syngas) containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other gases, which can be used to generate heat, electricity, or fuel.
Hazardous Waste #
waste that poses a substantial threat to human health and the environment due to its ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity.
Incineration #
the combustion of waste in a WTE facility to produce heat and, in most cases, electricity.
Landfill Gas #
the mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in a landfill.
Material Recovery Facility (MRF) #
a facility that separates and processes mixed waste to recover recyclable materials.
Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) #
a waste treatment process that combines mechanical sorting and biological treatment, such as anaerobic digestion, to recover recyclable materials and reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) #
household and commercial waste generated by communities, including paper, plastic, metal, glass, textiles, and food waste.
Non #
Recyclable Waste: waste that cannot be recycled or reused, typically consisting of mixed waste streams or materials with low economic value.
Plasma Gasification #
a type of gasification that uses a high-temperature plasma arc to convert waste into a syngas, which can be used to generate heat, electricity, or fuel.
Pyrolysis #
a thermochemical process that decomposes organic materials in the absence of oxygen, resulting in the production of a gas mixture (syngas) and solid (char) and liquid (bio-oil) products.
Recycling #
the process of collecting, processing, and converting waste materials into new products.
Refuse #
Derived Fuel (RDF): a fuel produced by shredding and size-reducing municipal solid waste to create a homogeneous, high-calorific value fuel.
Sustainable Waste Management #
the practice of managing waste in a way that minimizes its environmental, social, and economic impacts, while maximizing resource recovery and recycling.
Thermal Treatment #
any waste treatment process that uses heat to convert waste into energy, including incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification.
Waste Hierarchy #
a ranking of waste management options based on their environmental impact, with prevention and reduction at the top, followed by reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal.
Waste Minimization #
the practice of reducing the amount of waste generated by households, businesses, and industries.
Waste #
to-Energy (WTE): the process of converting waste into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through various technologies, including incineration, anaerobic digestion, and gasification.
Waste #
to-Fuel: the conversion of waste into a fuel, such as syngas, bio-oil, or Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), through thermochemical processes, such as pyrolysis or gasification.
Zero Waste #
a goal to eliminate waste and the continual use of resources, characterized by the principles of the circular economy and the waste hierarchy.