Page 220 - Energy from Toxic Organic Waste for Heat and Power Generation

198 Energy from Toxic Organic Waste for Heat and Power Generation

is a negative externality. Similarly, there occurs positive externality when the
social benefit exceeds the private benefit. A market failure occurs, when any
economic activity produces an externality.

12.3 ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

The economic assessment aims to examine expenses and costs occurring
during the collection of waste. Five economic indicators were calculated
to understand the economic aspects of the three different waste collection
systems. The costs for stakeholders outside the private company were not
considered. The capital costs of collection equipment were analyzed by as-
suming a lifetime of 10 years. The economic assessment for waste manage-
ment can be prepared by using economic indicators based on cost per route,
cost per ton of waste, final cost per ton of waste, break-even point per route,
and final cost per inhabitant [3]. Cost per route intends to know how much
is spent over each time the route is made, including components such as
workers, vehicles, containers, and other devices affected to the collection.
The same components are also used to calculate cost per ton. The final cost
per ton differs from cost per ton because of revenues from the sale of the
recyclable, cost of processing recyclables at sorting plant, and costs of send-
ing refuse to landfill (including taxes and tariff). Break-even point intends
to give the amount of recyclable needed to be collected in such way that
costs are equal to the revenues [4]. The final cost per inhabitant includes all
components from final costs, being reflected by inhabitant. Such indicators
were calculated to compare the scenarios, mostly related to the operation of
the collection systems. The costs involved in waste management are shown
in Fig. 12.1 [5].

12.4 URBANIZATION ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Rising population, rapid urbanization and increased use of natural resources
have given rise to a number of serious environmental problems like loss
of biodiversity and habitat destruction, depletion and degradation of for-
est resources, marine resources, air and water pollution, waste disposal, etc.
According to world development report, economic growth and urbaniza-
tion are closely related trends. Urbanization stimulates severe environmental
problems, which mean a higher rate of economic growth and urbanization
consequences in increased environmental problems. So, there exists a close