While developing countries are considering implementing appropriate technologies to treat their Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), the general public, authorities and waste management companies are highly concerned in relation to the adoption of Energy-from-Waste (EfW) technologies. This is mainly due to the growing opposition of well-intentioned (but not well informed) associations, but also from authorities that lack the technical background to fully understand their innumerous benefits. If we blindly believe what is often said here or there, EfW would be considered a wound to society. Even though such arguments used by the opponents are not technically sustainable, the consequences to the environment are not insignificant. They are leading to long delays or the abandon of projects, thus perpetuating dumping and landfills and their environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gases emissions, waste of renewable energy and conversion of arable land into landfills. This article intends to evaluate such arguments dissecting them to demonstrate the realities concerning modern and clean EfW technologies, while showing their correct place into an integrated waste management system. This paper seeks to contribute to the necessary debate on the correct treatment of MSW, especially about health issues, by a precise FACT CHECKING fighting against some myths and hoaxes about EfW technologies, such as: 1. “EfW is not compatible with recycling as it is burning all the valuable resources that could be recycled or composted” 2. “Through a vast recycling and composting program, it is possible to reach zero waste to landfill without the need to implement EfW plants” 3. “The MSW of my city is not adequate for thermal treatment due to high organic and moisture content (and therefore low calorific value). Furthermore with the increase of recycling rates the residual MSW will decrease its calorific value and combustion will not be feasible.” 4. “EfW plants pollute and release toxic gases that are harmful to human health and the environment.” 5. “EfW plants are a threat to the health of neighboring communities and the general population” 6. “EfW plants do not produce renewable energy as they burn materials that are derived from finite natural resources”… Of course, this list is not exhaustive and they are other hoaxes concerning this technology which would be analyzed in another article to follow.
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