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WASTE TO ENERGY WEBINAR��The Whole Picture: Climate Impacts from Incineration

April 11, 2024

A just world, of vibrant, resilient, regenerative Zero Waste communities, in harmony with nature…

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Current Portrayal of Incineration

* Based on calculations from Morrison Hershfield (2023). Landfill emissions are the annual average over a lifespan of 30 years. Excludes biogenic emissions.

Methane

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Where is this methane coming from?

Based on average solid waste composition in Canada as tabulated by Morrison Hershfield (2023).

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Why is Methane a Big Deal?

28

times more potent than CO2

30%

recovered from landfills in Canada

23%

of Canada’s methane emissions

As reported by Morrison Hershfield (2023) based on ECCC (2022).

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GHG Emissions: The Whole Picture

* Based on calculations from Morrison Hershfield (2023) plus estimates of biogenic emissions from Li et al. (2023). Landfill emissions are the annual average over a lifespan of 30 years.

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Biomass Burning is “Carbon Neutral”

“In keeping with the 2006 IPCC Guidelines (IPCC, 2006), only CO2 emissions resulting from oxidation of carbon in waste of fossil origin (e.g., plastics, certain textiles, rubber, liquid solvents, and waste oil) are considered net emissions and are included in the national CO2 emissions estimate. CO2 emissions from combustion of biomass materials (e.g., paper, food and wood waste) contained in the waste are biogenic emissions and are not included in national total emission estimates.”

- National Inventory Report 1990-2021: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada

(ECCC, 2023)

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Is burning biomass really carbon neutral?

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

Year:

0

1

2

3

50

No!

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Policies and Programs to Consider

  • Canada Zero Plastic Waste Strategy
  • Canada’s Methane Strategy
  • Product Stewardship
  • Right to Repair
  • Municipal Solid Waste Management Plans (70% to 85% diversion targets in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver)

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Increasing Methane Capture in Landfills

* Based on calculations from Morrison Hershfield (2023) plus estimates of biogenic emissions from Li et al. (2023). Landfill emissions are the annual average over a lifespan of 30 years.

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Beyond Landfills and Incineration

*Non-Biogenic and Biogenic CO2 Emissions/Offsets for Source Reduction and Recycling are not calculated separately and only included in net GHG emissions calculation.

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Report: https://www.zerowastebc.ca/about-us/our-work/#Research

Belinda Li, P.Eng.

bli@zerowastebc.ca

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References

  • [ECCC] Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2023). National Inventory Report 1990-2021: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada (Part 2). https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.506002/publication.html
  • Li, B., Maxwell, S., & Morris, J. (2023). The Whole Picture: Climate Impacts from Waste to Energy. Zero Waste British Columbia. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V5uhUcEnmnow0rKQgXDbhpwBmHLFTRNZ/view
  • Morrison Hershfield. (2023). FINAL REPORT Study of Waste to Energy Approaches for Processing Residual Municipal Solid Waste in Canada (220214300). Environment and Climate Change Canada.