摘要
Many biomass recycling facilities have been established in Japan, but its environmental efficiencies have been studied little. MIC has stated that these facilities do not work as well as expected. The environmental and economic efficiencies ofa biomass recycling center （representative of other recycling facilities） in Hita city are assessed here. The center was built to decrease the amount of waste needing to be disposed of, and is unusual in that it generates electricity using the methane produced. Electricity produced from biomass sells at a higher price than electricity sold by electricity companies in Japan, and this strongly affects the recycling center operation. The environmental efficiency of the recycling center was assessed using a lifecycle assessment method, and the economic efficiency was assessed from the amounts of greenhouse gases emitted and the running costs. As the result, it was clear that the recycling center emits about 20% of the greenhouse gases that were previously emitted. Treating biomass at the recycling center costs 1,356 yen per ton of biomass throughout the year. In conclusion, the recycling center decreases the environmental footprint of Hita city. The cost of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions is about 1,400 yen per ton of biomass.
