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Poland is highly likely, as per a European Commission report, to fall short of meeting the 2025 targets related to the preparation for re-use and recycling of municipal waste and packaging waste. The risk of not meeting the municipal waste recycling targets stands at 27%, while for packaging waste, it is estimated at 30%. Recycling rates play a pivotal role in gauging the efficiency of waste management systems, as well as in monitoring progress toward a circular economy. Taking into account the considerable likelihood of Poland not achieving the recycling targets, the authors of the paper found it imperative to identify the risk factors associated with Poland's failure to meet the European Commission's recycling and landfill targets within the waste-to-energy context. Additionally, they sought to evaluate the potential for the development of the waste-to-energy concept in Poland. The research objectives were fulfilled through the literature review method. By employing the classification of factors outlined in a SWOT analysis, the authors highlighted which of the identified risk factors could or should be considered strengths or weaknesses, opportunities or threats to the Polish recycling process. Mapping out future courses of action will enable decision-makers in Poland to address the weaknesses in recycling, capitalize on opportunities arising from the socio-economic situation in Poland, and formulate plans to mitigate the identified threats. Undertaking such initiatives has the potential to enhance recycling rates in Poland and facilitate the broader application of waste-to-energy practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of the study was to assess the possibility of practical use of products of pyrolysis of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), i.e., pyrolysis gas, biochar and pyrolysis oil, as an alternative to standard fossil fuels. The subject matter of the paper reaches out to the challenges faced by the global economy, not only in the context of the energy crisis, but also in the context of the energy transformation currently beginning in Europe. The increase in fuel and energy prices prompts countries to look for alternative solutions to Russian minerals. At the same time, the growing amount of municipal waste forces the implementation of solutions based on energy recovery (the amount of municipal waste per EU inhabitant in 2021 is 530 kg). One such solution is pyrolysis of RDF, i.e., fuels produced from the over-sieve fraction of municipal waste. In Poland, insufficient processing capacity of thermal waste conversion plants has led to significant surpluses of RDF (1.2 million Mg of undeveloped RDF in Poland in 2021). RDF, due to their high calorific value, can be a valuable energy resource (16–18 MJ/k). This issue is analyzed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poland's management of municipal waste, which amounts to over 13 million tons/year, is not efficient—about 60% of the waste is subjected to recovery processes, about 20% of all municipal waste is converted into energy, and almost 40% is landfilled. The authors of this article recognize the potential of pyrolysis as a method of the thermal processing of waste allowing the potential of the energy contained in the waste to be utilized. Pyrolysis is an economically attractive alternative to incineration, with a significantly lower environmental impact, allowing efficient waste management and the use of pyrolysis by-products in the energy sector (pyrolysis gas), or in the building materials sector (biochar). Despite so many advantages, this method is not employed in Poland. The aim of the paper is to indicate a recommended strategy for the application of pyrolysis in Poland as a method of the thermal processing of municipal solid waste. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis was used as a research method. In the first step, on the basis of the literature review, the factors which may affect the use of pyrolysis in Poland were identified. In the second step, five experts evaluated the weights of those factors and the interactions between them. The products of the weights and interactions allowed, in accordance with SWOT analysis methodology, the most desirable strategy of pyrolysis application in Poland to be determined, which turned out to be an aggressive one. This means that pyrolysis as a thermal waste processing method should be implemented on a large scale in Poland to improve the indicators of municipal waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) examination in order to use it for energy purpose. RDF material was subjected to thermogravimetric analysis. The TGA analysis confirmed the multi-component nature of tested material. It also indicated that the mixture consists of a minimum of 2 types of materials: biomass and thermoplastic polymers. The pyrolysis was conducted as a batch process with the use of a processing furnace supplied by the IZO Company. RDF sample was pyrolysed under 900 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. Obtained char and gaseous sample, as well as raw material, were subjected to elemental and gas chromatographic analysis. Furthermore, using ANSYS CHEMKIN-PRO software, numerical simulations of these samples were conducted. Based on the results of composition of pyrolysis gas, the numerical model was validated. Next, modelling of chemical composition of gas from RDF pyrolysis for a pilot installation working in Poland was performed. In addition, the evaluation of the investment costs for the exemplary installation for the thermal conversion of RDF using pyrolysis was made. For this purpose, dynamic methods of investment project assessment were used, which take into account the distribution of anticipated revenues and expenses related to a given investment project over time. • Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) can be a valuable energy source. • Thermal conversion of RDF by pyrolysis can contribute to limiting waste landfilling. • Calculations with the use of the ANSYS CHEMKIN-PRO software were conducted. • Economic analysis confirmed the legitimacy of the analysed investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]