The effect of changing waste management practices on PCDD/PCDF releases from household waste recycling and disposal processes

The paper examines the effect of changes in household waste management practices on releases of PCDDs and PCDFs to air, water and land. Three waste management strategies are examined: landfilling, incineration, and an integrated strategy incorporating materials recovery, composting, incineration and landfilling of residues. With the present mix of waste disposal options, incineration dominates the PCDD/F releases to air, followed by emissions from metal recovery processes and from landfill gas combustion. By the year 2000, anticipated changes in waste management practices and tighter emission standards result in lower overall emissions of PCDD/Fs with broadly comparable contributions from these sources. PCDD/F releases to water are very low. The largest release is to landfill, but the potential for public exposure to PCDD/Fs in landfilled waste is extremely limited.