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In general we prefer recycling to incineration, and incineration with energy recovery to landfilling. In Denmark 65 % of all waste is recycled, 25 % of waste is incinerated, and only 10 % goes to landfill.
In Denmark it has been politically decided that all waste suited for incineration is incineratetd in respect of environment, odour nuisances, hygiene etc. 50 % of waste incinerated at Vestforbrænding is domestic waste.
In 2008 Vestforbrænding generated 245 GWh of power and 1.390 GWh of district heating. These numbers correspond to the power comsumption in 80.000 homes and the heat comsumption in 75.000 homes.
Of the energy generated around 20 % becomes power and 80 % is turned into district heating.
In 2008 Vestforbrænding incinerated around 563.000 tones of waste. The energy from the waste incineration is used in production of power and district heating – and thus substitutes fossil fuels elsewhere.
When waste is incinerated in the furnaces the flue-gas is cooled with water. This water is converted into steam under high pressure and high temperature in the modern boilers and the steam turns into movement, power and heating in turbines, generators and heat exchangers.
Then power is distributed in the national grid to residents and other consumers. Heat is distributed through Vestforbrænding’s own grid and other district heating grids.