When we dispose of our waste in the different recycling containers, it is managed to recover as much material as possible. Currently, the overall volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) we generate is constantly increasing. Approximately 25 million tons are generated annually in Spain alone. Much of this waste can be recovered and reused, but other materials, unfortunately, cannot be easily separated due to their complex nature, making recovery difficult.
To prevent a large portion of this waste from ending up in a landfill, a solution is being sought to manage it effectively. This set of processes is called waste valorization . We'll explain what it is, why it's important, and how this fundamental process for sustainability is carried out.
What is waste recovery
The term waste recovery refers to the set of processes designed to give new value to materials considered waste , preventing them from ending up in landfills. According to European Directive 2008/98/EC, recovery is any operation whose main objective is to enable waste to serve a useful purpose, replacing other materials that would otherwise have been used to fulfill a particular function.
Of the municipal solid waste we generate, approximately 40% is recyclable . This waste, separated at the source through selective collection systems (recycling containers), is taken to treatment plants, where it is managed in different ways. Some examples of recovery include the recycling of materials such as glass, plastics, cardboard, and paper, in order to reduce the consumption of raw materials and minimize the extraction of natural resources.
However, the other 60% of waste is not easily recovered. For this waste, landfills are usually the final destination, although attempts are made to harness the gases produced during decomposition to generate biogas . This type of energy recovery is only a temporary measure, since this waste has no other useful life.
Waste valorization aims to minimize waste as much as possible by recovering the maximum amount of materials that can be recycled or reused in some way. This principle aligns with the concept of a circular economy and seeks to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Types of waste recovery
Not all waste has the same destination or recovery process. Depending on the type of material and its composition, different strategies are applied. The main types of waste recovery are:
- Energy recovery: This involves the incineration of non-recyclable waste in order to obtain energy. This process, in addition to preventing the waste from ending up in a landfill, allows the generation of useful energy (biogas or biomethane). An example of this process is solid recovered fuel (SRF), obtained from non-recyclable waste. The incineration process must be efficient, since it is assessed whether the energy generated is greater than that used to burn the waste.
- Material valorisation: It is the process by which materials are recovered from waste to be used again as raw materials, as occurs in the recycling of glass, plastic, paper or cardboard. This valorization reduces the exploitation of natural resources and decreases the environmental impact. In addition, organic waste, such as food or vegetable remains, can be subjected to processes such as composting or anaerobic digestion to generate fertilizers and biogas.
Waste recovery in Spain
In Spain, waste management still needs improvement compared to some other European countries. According to the most recent studies, 57% of waste is still sent to landfills, a very high percentage. The goal of proper waste management is to maximize its value, but Spain lags behind countries like Germany and Denmark, which have significantly reduced the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Only 9% of the waste generated in our country is incinerated, which also indicates that the potential for energy recovery from waste is not being adequately utilized. To improve this situation, greater efforts are needed in implementing recovery policies, including the construction of more treatment plants and the promotion of separate waste collection.
Benefits of waste recovery
The benefits of waste recovery are not only environmental, but also economic and social.
- Environmental benefits: Waste recovery reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, which reduces air, soil and water pollution. In addition, waste recovery processes allow for the use of more sustainable and clean methods, such as the production of biogas and biomethane.
- Economic benefits: Reusing materials and recovering energy allows companies to reduce their dependence on raw materials, which generates significant savings for them. By reducing waste, management and disposal costs are also reduced.
- Social benefits: Create new jobs related to waste management and recovery, while ensuring a more sustainable energy supply for the future. These aspects have a positive impact on the quality of life of people and the sustainability of societies.
The key role of waste recovery within the framework of the circular economy is essential to ensure sustainable development. It is clear that, with the increase in population and waste generation, this technique is becoming increasingly relevant.