Climate relevance of exhaust air purification in mechanical-biological waste treatment (MBA)

In the study, selected application cases of mechanical-biological waste treatment (MBA) are modelled with different exhaust air purification concepts and assessed according to their climate relevance. In addition to aerobic rotting and drying processes, partial flow fermentation is also considered. Based on continuous operating and emissions data from German MBA plants, direct emissions (reingas cargoes of methane and nitrous oxide as well as fossil additional energy requirements for exhaust air purification) are included in the calculations as well as indirect emissions from energy supply. The main result is that compliance with the limit values of the MBA Directive, taking into account low climate pollution, is only made possible by the exhaust air purification concept of the combination of biofilters and RTO in all modelled applications.