Análise do monitoramento ambiental da incineração de resíduos sólidos urbanos na Europa

Abstract

Incineration is a widely disseminated and consolidated solid waste treatment technology in Europe. Its main objective is to reduce the volume and mass (70% to 90%) of the waste that will be deposited in landfills. The heat generated during the incineration process is recovered through the generation of heat, steam or power and it makes this technology even more attractive, especially in scenarios of increasing energy demand, as is the case in Brazil. Directive 2010/75/UE rules incineration in Europe, which provides all forms of process operation and control, as well as atmospheric emission limits. Environmental monitoring and advertising of your data to the population is mandatory. The present work aims to analyze the environmental monitoring data of incinerators associated with the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP) focusing to environmental protection and also to evaluate biomonitoring studies carried out in the areas of influence of european incinerators. Through searching the websites of the respective incinerators, scientific articles and technical reports, it was possible to demonstrate the effective environmental monitoring as well as compliance with the limits required. Emissions of pollutants were lower than those stipulated as limits in European Union directive. The mean value was 48% lower for nitrogen oxides, 80% for carbon monoxide, 92% for particulate matter and 83% for dioxins and furans. The transparency of this information brings greater security to the population, regarding exposure to pollution and the possibility of inspection. Quantitative, qualitative, and biomonitoring results confirm incineration as a safe technology, when well operated, controlled and monitored. This study shows the need to change standards in Brazilian legislation to better manage this technology, especially within the safest limits, if implemented in Brazil.