Environmental Review, 1/2006 – Waste Statistics 2004 – 6 Incineration plants and landfills

Environmental Review, 1/2006

6 Incineration plants and landfills

6.1 Incineration plants
6.2 Landfills

6.1 Incineration plants

In 2003, total waste incineration capacity was around 3,389,000 tonnes, distributed between 32 plants, cf. Table 37. This is an increase in capacity of 691,000 tonnes compared to the 1999 capacity.

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

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

In 2003, there were 32 waste incineration plants in Denmark. It is expected that 2 of the small plants will close down in 2005.

Table 37. Number of incineration plants and available incineration capacity in 1989, 1993, 1994/95, 1996, 1999, and 2003	1989	1993	1994/95	1996	1999	2003
Number of incineration plants	38	31	31	31	31	32
Theoretic capacity, '000 tonnes	2164	2329	DH: 1217 CHP: 1315	DH: 1060 CHP: 1413	DH: 915 CHP: 1783	3389
Nominal capacity, tonnes/hour	313	335	DH: 174 CHP: 188	DH: 171 CHP: 194	DH: 166 CHP: 271

Source: Rambøll & Hannemann 1990: Analysis of data for energy plants based on waste, for the Danish EPA and the Danish Energy Authority. The Danish EPA and the Danish Energy Authority 1994: Waste resources for waste incineration 1993 and 2000. The Danish EPA and the Danish Energy Authority 1997: Waste for incineration year 2000. The Danish EPA and the Danish Energy Authority 2001: Waste incineration in 2004 and 2008. Volumes and capacities. Environmental Review No. 11, 2001.

Figures for 1989 and 1995 are calculated on the basis of nominal capacity at 7,000 hours/year. In figures for 1999 the nominal capacity includes plants erected in 1999. District heating capacity (DH) may be subject to restrictions under the Danish 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 were not in full operation in 1999. The figure for 2003 was calculated by the Danish EPA.

6.2 Landfills

In the Statutory Order on landfills, a landfill is defined as waste disposal facilities on land for the landfill of waste covered by K1b, K3a, K3b or K3c in Annex 1 of the Statutory Order on Approval of Listed Activities ^[30].This definition includes landfills (including controlled landfills), inert waste landfills and mono-landfills ^[31].

Today, there are 134 landfill facilities in Denmark with an environmental approval, according to a questionnaire study conducted by the Danish EPA in February/March 2001, cf. Table 38.

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.

Table 38

Source: Danish EPA: Working Report No. 54, Landfill Capacity 1992. Danish EPA 1997: Working Report no. 33, Landfills in Denmark, plus own calculations. Questionnaire study carried out by the Danish EPA in February/March 2001.

Footnotes

[30] Statutory Order no. 650 of 29 June 2001 on landfills.

[31] Statutory Order no. 943 of 16 September 2004 on approval of listed activities.