Temporal and spatial analysis of anthropogenic mercury and CO 2 emissions from municipal solid waste incineration in China: Implications for mercury and climate change mitigation

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 178; p. 108068
• Main Authors: Guo, Jianbo, Liu, Liyuan, Zhang, Guangru, Yue, Rongwu, Wang, Tongzhe, Zhang, Xiujin, Yang, Shitong, Zhang, Yitao, Wang, Kaiyue, Long, Hongfei, Feng, Qingzhong, Chen, Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 26.06.2023
• Subjects: Mercury emission inventory; Scenario analysis; CO emission inventory; Structural equation model; Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI)
• ISSN: 1873-6750

The contribution of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) to anthropogenic mercury and CO emissions have become increasingly important over the past decade. This study developed an inventory of anthropogenic mercury emissions and CO emissions during the period of 2014-2020, of MSWI process in China using a bottom-up inventory at the plant level. Overall, national MSWI anthropogenic mercury emissions increased from 2014 to 2020 by province. It was estimated that total 8321.09 kg of anthropogenic mercury emissions from 548 MSWI plants were scattered in 31 provinces of mainland China in 2020. The average intensity of mercury emission in China was 0.06 g·t in 2020, which was much lower than the pre-2010 level. Furthermore, the increased CO emission generated by MSWI from 2014 to 2020 is 1.97 times. Anthropogenic mercury emissions and CO emissions were concentrated mainly in developed coastal provinces and cities. The general uncertainty of national mercury emissions and CO emissions was estimated to be -123% to 323% and -130% to 335%, respectively. Furthermore, future emissions were predicted from 2030 to 2060 based on different scenarios of the independent and collaborative effects of control proposals, the results indicate that the enhancement of advanced air pollution control technologies and effective management of MSWI represent pivotal factors in realizing future reductions in CO and mercury emissions. The findings will supplement those for mercury and CO emissions, and be useful for relevant policy-making and to improve urban air quality, as well as human health.