Recent Developments in the Use of Municipal Refuse as a Fuel

The increase in the price of fuel since the Near East war of 1973 has led to renewed interest in refuse as a fuel, starting with more accurate knowledge of its calorific value. No further large power plant has been built but there have been incinerators supplying steam for heating purposes. The use of refuse as supplementary fuel for boiler plant and for cement production and as fuel for burning sewage sludge. Experiments are in progress on refuse in pelletised form for general sale and on pyrolysis and hydrolysis. In the USA there is interest in gas production from refuse landfills.