Industrial waste combustion

Users can choose between several industrial sectors including the paper, textiles, food, and construction industries. CarbonKit calculates CO₂ emissions based on the typical carbon content of each waste type (sourced from Chapter 2 of the same volume) and assuming 100% combustion. CO₂ which derives from recently sequestered carbon sources and fossil sources are differentiated, since their net impact on atmospheric CO₂ concentrations in distinct.

How to use this category

Selecting an emissions scenario

To use this category, select the industry sector using the industry drill choice.

Specifying activity data

Next, set the quantity of waste burned using the mass profile item value. CarbonKit assumes that the weight specified is the dry weight of the waste burned. Users can alternatively use the wet weight by setting the isWetWeight profile item value to 'true', in which case AMEE will convert wet weight into dry weight using typical water content data for each sector.

Results and calculation

The values returned represent CO₂ emissions associated with the waste quantity specified. The following discrete values are returned:

• fossilCO2: CO₂ emissions which derived from fossil carbon
• biogenicCO2: CO₂ emissions which derived from recently sequestered, biogenic carbon
• totalCO2: fossil and biogenic carbon

Notes

Methane emissions

The IPCC methodology does not provide CH₄ emissions factors for waste combustion disaggregated into individual industry sectors. Rather, the IPCC documentation refers users to the methodology for stationary fuel combustion. The stationary combustion methodology only specifies greenhouse gas emissions from generic waste types (municipal, industrial) on an energetic basis and so calculations made on the basis of a specific mass of waste are not possible ('typical' calorific values for these generic wastes are not available given the large variability in industrial wastes). As such, this category considers only CO₂ emissions. For generic waste combustion emissions calculations which include CH₄ as well as N₂O, users are referred to this methodology.