bioweb.sungrant.org » Technical » Biomass Resources » Urban Biomass Resources » Refuse Derived Fuel
Refuse derived fuel (RDF) is produced by processing municipal solid waste to increase the fuel value of the waste. The processing removes non-combustible materials (e.g., inorganic materials such as glass and metal) as well as wet organic materials (e.g., food scraps) and creates a consistent sized feedstock. Materials contained in RDF generally include textiles, paper and cardboard, wood, and plastics. Sometimes other petroleum derived wastes, such as tires, are included. The RDF can be combusted by itself in waste-to-energy facilities or co-fired with other materials (such as coal) to produce electricity.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in 2005, 33.4 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) was combusted with energy recovery (EPA, 2006). While direct combustion of MSW without removal of organics does occur, most of the 89 MSW waste-to-energy plants in operation use RDF.
Table 1 contains the estimated quantities of organic municipal solid waste materials generated in 2005, as well as those recovered and either recycled into other products (such as compost and mulch) or used for energy. About 40% of the waste is currently recovered, with the remainder sent to landfills.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2006, October). Municipal Solid Waste in the United States—2005 Facts and Figures. (Report No. EPA530-R-06-011). Office of Solid Waste Management.