The recently presented White Paper on Waste-to-Energy in Serbia aims to provide a clear and reliable insight into all aspects of waste incineration and to address many of the questions that this technology raises. It also provides detailed information on incineration for anyone with a deeper interest in this technology.
Waste incineration, or burning, is a process of thermal treatment in which waste is combusted at high temperatures. Although waste prevention should be the first step in management, followed by reuse and recycling as the next options, recycling is not always feasible. As a result, a large portion ends up in nature or in landfills. However, only a small number of landfills meet technical and legal standards, while many are illegal dumps without any measures for environmental and human health protection.
As both the amount of waste produced and energy consumption increase, waste-to-energy becomes a viable option. As stated in the document, many types of waste have high energy potential. For instance, the thermal value of municipal waste is similar to that of lignite, while plastic and waste oil have an energy value close to coal and fuel oil.
“Waste management in the Republic of Serbia is defined by regulations that have been transferred from the European Union into domestic legislation, based on the waste management hierarchy, fundamental principles, and various treatment options that have proven successful in practice. The waste management hierarchy clearly defines that the first and most important goal must be waste prevention. If waste generation cannot be prevented, conditions must be ensured for its reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and processing. Only after all these steps are carried out should the remaining waste be disposed of in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner,” the White Paper states.
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In Serbia, the current approach to waste management is at a very low level, with consequences for the environment and human health. A special chapter of this document offers a detailed review and analysis of legal regulations related to waste-to-energy, including both the legal framework at the European Union level and the laws in force in Serbia.
The detailed description of waste-to-energy technologies presented in the White Paper aims to introduce stakeholders in Serbia to this relatively new technology and to answer many questions that arise with the introduction of new solutions, particularly regarding environmental protection, emissions into air, water, and soil, as well as impacts on human health. Various combustion technologies are used for waste-to-energy: grate combustion, fluidized bed furnaces, or rotary kilns.
A temperature of 850°C or higher in the waste incineration facility disinfects the waste, destroying bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. This process is key to public health protection, especially during epidemics. Additionally, waste mass is reduced by 75 percent, and its volume by 90 percent, significantly decreasing the amount of waste sent to landfills, thus extending their lifespan.
During the waste-to-energy process, the amount of greenhouse gases released is much lower compared to the most modern sanitary landfills. The energy produced in this way can generate electricity, process steam for industrial consumers, hot water, and energy for district heating or district cooling.
To create the possibility for Serbia’s waste management system to become sustainable and aligned with the principles prevailing in developed countries, it is necessary to comply with everything outlined in the White Paper.
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