An Efficient Waste-To-Energy Model in Isolated Environments. Case Study: La Gomera (Canary Islands)

Manuel Uche-Soria and Carlos Rodríguez-Monroy
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Manuel Uche-Soria: Department of Industrial Organization, Business Administration and Statistics. Technical University of Madrid, c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Carlos Rodríguez-Monroy: Department of Industrial Organization, Business Administration and Statistics. Technical University of Madrid, c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a controversial aspect of isolated environments, not only because the production of waste grows exponentially, but also because in these isolated regions the difficulties are accentuated in comparison with the mainland territories. The limitation of space, the technology of scale and the peaks of generation due to existing tourism, are clear examples of the barriers that must be overcome. This research studies the potential of MSW recovery on the island of La Gomera (Canary Islands) as an alternative to landfill deposition, being an additional energy source for heat and electricity. Likewise, the possibility of carrying out the landfill mining located in the El Revolcadero environmental complex is explored. The methodology followed consists, first of all, on estimating the annual amount of MSW and waste deposited in the landfill. Second, the characterization of representative samples of each municipality is carried out. Third, according to these characteristics, the thermal treatment is chosen and, finally, the energy generated is evaluated. The results are encouraging, and many advantages are derived from this model. The annual recycling figure increases by about 5000 tons per year, the percentage of renewable energy from waste reaches 35.5% (most installed capacity is diesel), and greenhouse gases (GHG) are reduced by more than half. To overcome the challenges in the integral management of MSW, it is necessary to move from a linear economy to a circular economy that takes into account the priorities established by the European Union to solve the problem of these isolated environments in terms of energy.

Keywords: waste-to-energy; isolated environments; circular economy; waste management; carbon emission reduction; Canary Islands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:11:p:3198-:d:238114

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