waste-to-energy plant

A waste-to-energy plant is a facility that burns municipal solid waste to generate heat, which is then used to produce steam or hot water. This process recovers energy from refuse that would otherwise be landfilled.1

Waste-to-energy plants can operate using two main systems:
* Mass burn systems: These use all refuse without prior preparation.1
* Refuse-derived fuel systems: These separate combustible materials from non-combustibles like glass and metal before burning.1

Some plants can also produce electricity through a process called cogeneration, by installing a turbine to generate both steam and electricity. While these plants are more expensive to build and operate than simple incinerators, the sale of energy offsets much of the cost, making them an economically viable waste management option.1