Tests of Physicochemical Properties of Fuel And Ballast Fractions From Waste Processing Installations

Economic development of a country as well as growing consumption causes a rise in the amount of wastes, mainly municipal wastes. Basic sources of the municipal wastes are households and public buildings. When Poland joined European Union, it was necessary to introduce many changes related to the waste management. Gradually implemented actions aim at limiting the amounts of municipal wastes deposited in landfills and reducing biodegradable fraction of wastes. Production of fuel from the municipal waste fraction constitutes an important element of modern waste management system. Moreover, it becomes an alternative to exhaustible resources of fossil fuels and a valuable source of energy to be used in industry, e.g. in cement industry.

The article presents characteristics of a selected production plant of alternative fuel, which operates in the area of Silesian Voivodship. The purpose of the test was to analyse the quality of the readymade alternative fuel and ballast fraction formed in the device. Achieved test results were applied to the valid legal regulations in the context of the best possible waste management.