Innovative Concepts for Highly Efficient Energy-from-Waste Plants in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands 16.3 Mio. inhabitants annually produce about 60 Mio. tons of waste; with some 450 inhabitants per m² the Netherlands belong to the countries with the highest population density within Europe. The mostly rather flat land has a well developed system of streets as well as water ways resulting in rather low transport cost.

467 communities in 12 provinces are obliged to find a solution for the disposal of their household waste. The waste collection usually takes place on a weekly basis, the financing of the disposal system is based on a waste specific tax system. The provinces have the responsibility for the licensing of plants as well as the control of regulations. The state itself is responsible for legislation and for the set-up of a national waste plan.

Thermal waste treatment has a long tradition in the Netherlands, so that the portion of untreated waste which is landfilled is rather small. In 2009 (as of December 31st) there were in total 11 EfW plants with a permitted capacity of 6.888 Mio. t/y in operation (this does not include the hospital waste incineration plant ZAVIN). The extension of capacities (new plants as well as plant extensions) in the provinces of Groningen, South Holland, North Brabant and North Friesland but also considering the shut down of the plant in Rotterdam there are today (as of July 2011) in total 12 plants with the capacity of 7.406 Mio. t/y. The EfW plant Coevorden is not included in this balance.

Mechanical biological treatment plants were considered only as transitional solution at an early point of time and not as a replacement for EfW plants. The market for MBT plants in the Netherlands is thus limited.

The average total capacity per plant is about 620,000 t/y. Though comparably high technological efforts in particular with regard to the gas cleaning system are applied the gate fees are still on a moderate level, the range is between 80 and 125 EUR per ton. With regard to the thermal capacity there is a high degree of utilisation of the plants; the difference between the theoretical possible throughput and the actual throughput is related to the increased heating value that has taken place since the original design phase.

 

 

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