Global watch

Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China

Largest waste-to-energy plant in the world planned

The Chinese city of Shenzhen plans to tackle its serious waste problem by burning 5,000 metric tons per day in what will become the largest waste-to-energy plant in the world. Expected to be up and running by 2020, the plant is less about generating electricity and more about finding a solution to the existing trash problem, according to reports.

The new incinerator is one of 300 waste-to-energy plants that the Chinese government plans on building over the next three years. According to reports, the plant roof, which will stretch about 1 mile, will be topped with around 48,000 square yards of solar panels.

In addition to reducing trash, it will be providing clean and sustainable electricity to the surrounding city and inviting members of the public to visit the facility and see it in action.

Oslo, Norway

Trash incinerator begins carbon-capture testing

The world's first experiment to capture carbon dioxide from the fumes of burning trash is taking place at Oslo, Norway's main waste incinerator. According to a Reuters article, the technology aims to enlist the world's trash in slowing global warming.

Klemetsrud incinerator burns household and industrial waste and generates heat to warm buildings in the city. About 60 percent of the trash incinerated at Klemetsrud is of biological origin, meaning capturing emissions would be a step to extract carbon from a natural cycle in "negative emissions," the article says.

At the project’s opening ceremony, the article states Oslo’s mayor, Marianne Borgen, said, "I hope Oslo can show other cities that it's possible" to capture emissions from trash.

The Klemetsrud incinerator emits more than 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, the article notes.

Leeds, United Kingdom

Carbon8 to transform EfW flue gas into aggregates

Carbon negative aggregate specialist Carbon8 Aggregates, Suffolk, U.K., has won planning permission to build a new $5.7 million manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Leeds, U.K.

The joint planning application for the 13-acre site, part of an industrial estate at Cross Green to the south east of the city, was submitted with local independent block maker Thomas Armstrong, who plans to build a new block production plant alongside Carbon8’s aggregate operation.

Plans were approved by Leeds City Council on Feb. 16, 2016, and work is expected to begin on the Carbon8 facility in August. The new two-line facility will be capable of transforming 50,000 metric tons of waste flue gas treatment residues from energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities into approximately 110,000 metric tons of lightweight secondary aggregate.