Mercury emissions from waste combustion in China from 2004 to 2010

An inventory of mercury emissions originating from waste incineration in China, including municipal solid waste, rural household waste and agricultural waste, was calculated for the period of 2004–2010. During this period, mercury emissions from waste incineration increased at an average annual rate of 3.9%, and reached 16.6 t y−1 by the end of 2010. From 2004 to 2010, the mercury emissions from rural household waste incineration accounted for 46.6% of the total waste emissions, followed by agricultural waste (30.7%) and municipal solid waste (22.7%). However, the growth rate of mercury emissions was largest for municipal solid waste incineration, with an annual rate of 37.3%, while the emissions from rural household waste showed a negative growth rate (−5.8%). The mercury emissions from waste combustion is projected to be 18.6 t y−1 by 2015, with the contribution of municipal solid waste, rural household waste and agricultural waste being 46.4%, 27.1% and 26.5%, respectively.

► Inventory on mercury emission from waste incineration with high spatial resolution.
► Mercury emission from rural household waste incineration was large.
► Mercury emission from waste incineration was projected to 2015.