Look to Europe? Examining the Relevance and Applicability of the European Experiences with the Use of Waste to Energy as a Treatment Method for Residual Waste for the Province of Ontario

Abstract

This research explores the development and use of waste to energy (WTE) technologies in Europe and in the Province of Ontario, Canada. As the quantity of waste generated has continued to increase in industrialized countries, the need for alternative waste management methods to reduce the dependency on landfill and to recover the resource in the waste has also increased. Many European countries, including Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany, have developed WTE facilities to achieve these goals, whereas the use of WTE in Ontario has been extremely limited. However, the current shortage of residual waste management capacity in Ontario has sparked debate over the potential for the use of WTE. This thesis examines the driving forces that have promoted the use of WTE in Europe and the barriers that have prevented its use in Ontario. From this investigation the main lessons learned from Europe's use of WTE were identified as well as the areas of knowledge that are required in Ontario to foster the discussions over the potential for WTE technologies. This research analyses the European lessons learned to determine if they are applicable and relevant for satisfying the knowledge gaps in Ontario. As well recommendations are made for ensuring that the discussions over residual waste management and the potential use of WTE in Ontario move forward successfully resulting in crucial actions being taken.