From linear to circular economy: Story of the bottom ash
(naslov ne postoji na srpskom)
aInstitute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic bDanish Waste Solutions, Horsholm, Denmark
e-adresa: syc@icpf.cas.cz
Projekat: This work has been partially funded with state support from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic and Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic within the Programme Environment for Life (Project SS02030008)
Ključne reči: incineration bottom ash; metal recovery; waste-to-energy
Sažetak
(ne postoji na srpskom)
Incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) with energy recovery is a key component of integrated waste management in the Czech Republic. In 2021, approximately 6 million tonnes of MSW were generated, with around 0.75 million tonnes processed annually in four operating waste-to-energy (WtE) plants. These facilities produce about 0.2 million tonnes of incineration bottom ash (IBA), which contains up to 13 wt.% ferrous and 3 wt.% non-ferrous metals. However, recovery of valuable metals remains limited due to the lack of advanced separation technologies. A detailed case study from the Prague WtE plant confirmed that most recoverable metals are found in particles >2 mm, accessible without intensive comminution. A full-scale metal recovery facility is planned, with expected commissioning in 2026/2027, and the potential to recover up to 2,500 tonnes of metals annually, saving approximately 15,000 tonnes CO₂-eq emissions. In 2021, a new legal framework enabled IBA utilization in road construction, under strict environmental and technical criteria. A pilot project using 1,000 tonnes of IBA demonstrated compliance and feasibility. These developments support broader IBA valorization, aligning with circular economy principles and national climate goals.
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