RDF Waste and SRF Waste

RDF waste refers to any domestic, commercial, or industrial waste that’s disposed of by being converted into refuse-derived fuel (RDF). This is a process that creates energy from waste that can’t be recycled or reused. RDF waste is municipal solid waste (MSW), which includes non-hazardous, residential, industrial, commercial, construction, and demolition waste.

RDF waste examples can include all sorts of combustible and biodegradable materials. Common examples are food waste, non-recyclable plastics, paper, and cardboard (such as treated, laminated, or contaminated materials). These are processed to create a type of fuel that’s used as an alternative to fossil fuels in power plants and other systems.

SRF waste refers to mainly commercial waste that’s used to produce solid recovered fuel (SRF). This is another type of energy from waste process that converts a wide range of non-recyclable rubbish into renewable energy. SRF waste is very similar to RDF, but it goes through extra processing to create the fuel.

Examples of waste types used to produce SRF mainly include non-recyclable paper, cardboard, wood, textiles, and plastic. All SRF waste must come from non-hazardous types of waste. These are often sourced from commercial waste, rather than domestic and industrial settings that can provide the basis for RDF waste.

The main difference between RDF and SRF is the level of refinement needed to produce both fuel types. Both fuels are generally made from the same source materials (non-recyclable rubbish), although SRF is most often created from just commercial waste. It’s the refinement levels that are the main difference between the fuels.

SRF is highly refined and in many cases produced to exact specifications. These are supplied by the companies set to use the fuel to ensure it meets their needs. There’s less refinement required for RDF, so it can be used for a wide array of applications. SRF can also be used in cement kilns, unlike RDF.

RDF and SRF as waste disposal methods have many advantages when you generate rubbish that can’t be recycled or reused. The main advantages of creating RDF or SRF from your rubbish for waste management purposes are that it:

• Reduces the reliance on fossil fuels like coal and oil, which have negative environmental impacts. This helps reduce carbon emissions related to waste disposal.
• Saves landfill space by diverting non-recyclable rubbish away from landfill sites that are already filling up.
• Cuts waste disposal costs for your business. Converting waste into energy means you’ll pay less landfill tax for your waste management costs.