Strategies on implementation of waste-to-energy (WTE) supply chain for circular economy system: a review

To simultaneously solve the dilemma of energy demand, waste management, and greenhouse gas emission for communities globally, the waste-to-energy (WTE) supply chain as district energy system should be a viable method towards circular industrial economy. Several essential state-of-the-art WTE technologies including combustion, gasification and anaerobic digestion were evaluated. Portfolio options of technologies for different types of WTE supply chains were illustrated for achieving circular economy system. Since policy makers have to address the public concerns prior to promulgate and implement relating regulations, the strategies on implementation of WTE supply chain were proposed to overcome the challenging barriers from the aspects of technology, finance, institution and regulation. A total of eight key task-forces were also proposed for effectively executing the strategies. Furthermore, several successful lessons on WTE supply chains such as green fuel pellet for heating supply and co-digestion of organic wastes for bio-gas production around the world were reviewed and illustrated. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.