<P> Waste - to - energy generation is being increasingly looked at as a potential energy diversification strategy, especially by Sweden, which has been a leader in waste - to - energy production over the past 20 years . The typical range of net electrical energy that can be produced is about 500 to 600 kWh of electricity per ton of waste incinerated . Thus, the incineration of about 2,200 tons per day of waste will produce about 50 MW of electrical power . </P> <P> Most waste - to - energy plants burn municipal solid waste, but some burn industrial waste or hazardous waste . A modern, properly run waste - to - energy plant sorts material before burning it and can co-exist with recycling . The only items that are burned are not recyclable, by design or economically, and are not hazardous . </P> <P> Waste - to - energy plants are similar in their design and equipment with other steam - electric power plants, particularly biomass plants . First, the waste is brought to the facility . Then, the waste is sorted to remove recyclable and hazardous materials . The waste is then stored until it is time for burning . A few plants use gasification, but most combust the waste directly because it is a mature, efficient technology . The waste can be added to the boiler continuously or in batches, depending on the design of the plant . </P> <P> In terms of volume, waste - to - energy plants incinerate 80 to 90 percent of waste . Sometimes, the residue ash is clean enough to be used for some purposes such as raw materials for use in manufacturing cinder blocks or for road construction . In addition, the metals that may be burned are collected from the bottom of the furnace and sold to foundries . Some waste - to - energy plants convert salt water to potable fresh water as a by - product of cooling processes . </P>

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