Aiming for sustainable MSW and cement industry practices, this study assessed the conversion of municipal solid waste (MSW) to refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in four major Indonesian areas. Physical and chemical properties, particle size distribution, and MSW fraction analysis were performed to characterize the MSW before utilizing the MSW for the pilot project. In the pilot project, MSW was shredded and separated to produce RDF and low-grade RDF. RDF produced was quantified, and the output was analyzed to determine the RDF quality. RDF modeling was set based on the pilot project outcome, where the potential quantity, analysis, and feasibility were evaluated. The analysis revealed a need for better MSW processing due to a low heating value (LHV) of 5.4 MJ/kg and high moisture content (MC) of 52-57%. Combustible materials were found to be crucial for RDF quality. A pilot processing 1,000 Mg of MSW resulted in RDF with an LHV of 8.7 MJ/kg and MC of 47% and low-grade RDF with an LHV of 3.0 MJ/kg and MC of 61%, highlighting the importance of drying phase to meet quality standards. The modeling incorporated a two-step drying process, including hot gas utilization at the cement plant. 13 RDF units processing 6,500 MSW Mg/day were needed to produce 3100 Mg/day of RDF (equal to 50% fuel substitution), which could significantly reduce CO2 emissions and MSW by 45% in Jakarta and its neighboring cities, marking an effort for eco-friendlier cement manufacturing.
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Kusuma et al. (2024) studied this question.