Authorization of energy recovery plants from waste – comparison between waste flow rate and thermal load

The study aims to clarify the relationship between the environmental performance of waste-to-energy plants (as measured by mass flows of pollutants discharged into the atmosphere), the design thermal load, and the amount of waste treated. Authorizing plants for a fixed value of thermal load (as set by the legislative changes introduced by Article 35, paragraph 3, of Law No. 164/2014), rather than for a fixed value of the amount of waste that can be treated annually, ensures the persistence of the environmental compatibility of the plant itself to the limits set by the sector regulations.

Starting from an analysis of current regulations and an overview of the types of permits in force for energy recovery plants in Italy, the study shows the dependence of environmental performance on the thermal load and not on the amount of the input waste.