Technologies Overview
Types of waste treatment options / processes
This guide describes 12 alternative waste treatment technologies. They vary in financial implication, required skills, sensitivity to waste composition and whether they have been successfully applied in South Africa or internationally. The table below gives some guidance around the suitability of different technologies in the short term, medium term and long term.
| DURATION | TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS | INPUT MATERIALS |
|---|---|---|
|
SHORT TERM Proven technology in South Africa, comparatively low financial implications and skills requirements, and suitable to local waste composition. |
Open Window Composting | Putrescible/organic waste and garden/food waste collections |
| Clean Material Recovery Facility | Mixed dry recyclable material from domestic and commercial sources | |
| Residual waste, commercial and industrial waste, construction and demolition waste | ||
|
MEDIUM TERM Proven technology in South Africa, comparatively low financial implications and skills requirements, and suitable to local waste composition. |
Mechanical Biological Treatment | Residual waste, commercial and industrial waste, certain fractions of construction and demolition waste and refuse derived fuel (RDF) |
| Anaerobic Digestion | Putrescible/organic waste and garden/food waste collections | |
| Municipal solid waste (MSW), commercial and industrial waste and wet type | ||
|
LONG TERM No track record of successful application, high financial implications and skills requirements, and high sensitivities to waste composition. |
Municipal solid waste (MSW), commercial and industrial waste and wet type | |
| Plasma Gasification | RDF, treated residual waste, commercial and industrial waste or selected construction and demolition waste | |
| MSW, commercial and industrial waste or selected construction and demolition waste and clinical/hazardous wastes |
Types of treatments:
Alternative waste treatment technologies use one, or a combination, of the following processes:
- Mechanical treatment
- Biological treatment
- Thermal treatment
Volumes needed for technology options:
A waste treatment technology will usually be sensitive to both the nature and the amount of waste that requires treatment. These calculations should take into account waste reduction initiatives (and recycling – establishing a MRF should be an integral part to a waste treatment solution).
