Municipal solid waste pathways: Material flow analysis & waste to energy potential in Lithuania

This study examines Lithuania's material flow and energy potential from 2010 to 2023 to assess waste management amidst rising economic and industrial activity in the country. According to Lithuanian EPA data is classified into two streams, 70.28 % of waste could be used to generate electricity, while 24.71 % could not. In accordance with European waste codes the methodology classified suitable waste for energy recovery into nine cases (C1-C9) and unsuitable waste into four (C10-C13), tracking disposal methods like landfilling (D1–5), incineration with energy recovery (R1), recycling (R2-R9), export (S4), reuse and preparation for reuse, and others. Lithuania's 2023 material flow analysis shows that 6.96 % of waste is reused, 28.48 % recycled, 12.13 % incinerated for energy recovery, 30.18 % for other processing, 14.29 % exported, and 6.81 % landfilled. The study calculated the annual power generation potential from each waste case from 2010 to 2023 and found 148.11 GWh in 2010 and 433.08 GWh in 2023. This analysis assumed 2023 as the present scenario and recommended adjustments in C1-C9 cases. According to the proposed scenario, waste can generate 980.23 GWh/y of electric energy in 2023 and beyond if managed properly. Lithuania consumed 63152.06 GWh in 2023, in which household usage was 17811.35GWh (28 %). The country’s waste can generate 29.79 % of household electricity (3290.13 GWh/y) under the proposed scenario. This Lithuanian example proves that there is a significant energy reserve in the waste management systems of countries and regions.