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Waste Statistics 2000

7. Incineration plants and landfills

7.1 Incineration plants

In 1999, total waste incineration capacity was around 2,726,000 tonnes, distributed on 31 plants, cf. Table 18. This is an increase in capacity of 253,000 tonnes compared to the 1996 capacity.

In the beginning of the 1990s, an extensive conversion of waste incineration plants from heating generation to combined power and heating generation took place. In this connection, capacity adjustments were effected in relation to expected waste amounts for incineration in future.

As a result of the ban on landfilling of waste suitable for incineration that took effect on 1^st January 1997, there is now increasing pressure on incineration capacity. Amounts of non-recyclable waste suitable for incineration will be surveyed regularly in order to ensure necessary incineration capacity.

Table 18
Number of incineration plants and available incineration capacity in 1989, 1993, 1994/95, 1996 and 1999

Sources: Rambøll & Hannemann 1990: Analysis of data for energy plants based on waste, for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Energy Agency. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Energy Agency 1994: Waste resources for waste incineration 1993 and 2000. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Energy Agency 1997: Waste amounts for incineration year 2000. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Energy Agency 2001: Waste incineration in 2004 and 2008. Amounts and capacities. Figures for 1989 and 1995 are calculated on the basis of nominal capacity at 7,000 hours/year. Figures for 1996 and 1999 are based on actual hours of operation of plants. District heating capacity (DH) may be subject to restrictions under the Act on heating supply. CPH = combined power and heating. In figures for 1999 the nominal capacity includes plants erected in 1999. This gives a larger nominal capacity as furnaces have not been fully implemented in 1999.

7.2 Landfills

According to a questionnaire study conducted by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency in February/March 2001 there are today 134 landfill facilities in Denmark with an environmental approval, cf. Table 19. In addition, there is a small number of landfill facilities for harbour sludge.

Of these, 100 facilities are owned by public authorities, whereas 34 are under private ownership. The 100 public facilities cover 51 landfills, 25 inert waste landfills and 24 mono-landfills.

The privately owned facilities cover 3 landfills, 10 inert waste landfills and 21 mono-landfills.

According to the study the legal protection period has expired for just below half of the 134 landfill facilities.

A landfill is defined as a site receiving waste that, immediately or over time, presents a risk of pollution of groundwater, surface water and/or air. A landfill for inert waste is a site receiving waste that does not, or only to a very limited extent presents a risk of pollution of groundwater, surface water and/or air. A mono-landfill is a site receiving only one or a limited range of waste types with known composition.

As a consequence of the above-mentioned ban on landfilling of waste suitable for incineration, in combination with an increased and further differentiated waste tax, a large drop in landfill capacity needs is expected.

However, this may be counterbalanced by more stringent requirements for dredging of harbour sludge and recycling of residues.

Table 19
Number of landfills, inert waste landfills and separately located mono-landfills and available landfill capacity in 1992 and 1994

Sources: Danish Environmental Protection Agency. Working report no. 54, Landfill Capacity 1992, Danish Environmental Protection Agency 1997: Working report no. 33, Landfill sites in Denmark, and internal calculations. Questionnaire study carried out by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency in February/March 2001.

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