'Waste-to-Energy recycling' in the experience of Sweden and USA : social-ecological & philosophic research

Abstract

The article presents the analysis for various socio-ecological approaches to the practice of waste management, from the standpoints of environmental and human safety, economic and energy efficiency, as well as a new philosophy of consumption. There is a special attention to main factors contributing to the “garbage” problem aggravation, and possible ways for its mitigation. A comparative analysis of the productivity of processing methods for the purpose of recycling, secondary use, composting, and WtE-incineration, is carried out taking into account their advantages and risks. The key socio-ecological message of this study is that the so-called 'WtE-recycling', which some European countries have relied on, is a temporary solution being inferior, in the long run, to such methods of waste processing as recycling by the secondary use, anaerobic digestion and composting technologies for organic waste. There is even a kind of competition for the “resource” between these fundamentally different concepts of waste management. Alongside, today WtE-incineration allows solving rapidly the problem of waste neutralizing, reducing its volume, with the useful energy release. Thus, this approach undoubtedly helps to reduce the number of landfills that occupy large areas and poison the soil, water, and atmosphere.