ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF URBAN SOLID WASTE AND BIOMASS IN SOUTHERN SANTA CATARINA AIMING AT ENERGY RECOVERY

Abstract

Alternative treatments to urban solid waste (USW) landfill and its integration with biomass can generate social, economic, and environmental benefits beyond contributing to the just energy transition in the Carboniferous Region of Santa Catarina State (Brazil). In this paper, were collected and analyzed data on generation, quantity processed, and current USW treatment practices, as well as rice and forest biomass, aiming to identify the potential for application in the development of USW-derived fuel and biomass that can be used in the energy and industrial markets. In 2020, 236,272.2 t of USW were produced by the forty municipalities considered, with 50% concentrated in just five of these. With only three landfill sites in this region, many municipalities dispose of their USW at a distant location, which increases the overall cost of waste management for the municipalities. The total forest biomass handled in 2019 was 2,135,704.31 tons, and rice husk and straw (2020/2021 harvest) were 999,750.00 tons. Based on this amount and the analysis of the points of concentration of these materials, alternative treatments are being studied with a focus on adding value to the waste chain and advances in the development of the waste management sector in Santa Catarina and in Brazil.