Abstract:
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management presents significant challenges for rapidly urbanizing areas like Gazipur City Corporation (GCC), Bangladesh. This thesis explores the potential of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technologies as sustainable solutions for addressing waste management and energy generation challenges in Gazipur. The study analyzes the composition and characteristics of MSW in the city, evaluates WTE technologies including landfill gas-to- energy (LFGTE) and incineration, and assesses their economic viability and environmental impact. Using the Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM), methane emissions were projected, and the potential for energy recovery from LFGTE was determined to be 162 million kWh annually, with a low Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of $0.0017/kWh. Incineration of MSW, with an average input of 1,004 tons/day, was estimated to generate 41.7 MW/day, providing 365 million kWh annually, albeit with a higher LCOE of $0.01458/kWh. The findings suggest that both technologies offer viable pathways for waste management and energy generation, with distinct advantages and limitations. LFGTE is more cost- effective, while incineration yields higher energy output but requires greater capital investment. This research emphasizes adopting an Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) approach to combine these technologies for maximum efficiency and environmental sustainability.
