Application of Thermal Waste-to-Energy in Dhaka City: Benefits, Scope, and Challenges

Globally, municipal solid waste (MSW) accounts for around 4.5 million tons every day and it is anticipated that this amount will increase to more than 8 million tons per day by 2050. MSW accounts for more than 3.3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and MSW management is widely acknowledged as a vital component of the government’s efforts to achieve sustainable development objectives. Modern waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities may avoid the production of methane (CH
4
), a member of GHG 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO
2
) and other landfill emissions, and it is estimated that WTE saves between 0.5 and 1 ton of CO
2
equivalent GHG emissions per ton of waste when compared to landfills. Dhaka, one of the world’s most populous mega-cities, now dumps nearly all of its collected MSW in open landfills. According to the findings of this research, shifting one-quarter of pre-treated waste to WTE plants instead of landfills may cut up to one-third of CO
2
equivalent GHG emissions from landfills in Dhaka city annually. However, to make the WTE technology financially viable in Dhaka city, current legislative framework and public policies governing waste management system and energy sources need to be revised.