So in some localalities people pay to be able to hand off their trash to be converted to energy. Wonder if that's because of a difference in local businesses or in local recycling behavior.
This isn't really that uncommon, in the US at least.
I know Minneapolis has an incinerator that generates electricity. And you certainly pay to have your garbage picked up.
It's a win/win for everyone really. In theory. Energy generated should offset some of the costs involved in picking up the waste to begin with. Certainly not all though.
This works because of Germany's high electric rates, $0.30/kWh in 2014. The waste to energy plants get about 500kWh/ton of garbage, or $150 of electrical energy. They can pay $50/ton and make a profit work out.
I'm curious, what makes the German electrical rate so high? Is it taxes guiding the market toward renewables and ecologically friendly sources? Perhaps a regulatory induced shortfall of production? Maybe a happy oligopoly?
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It says that they may reduce ("up to 10%") the garbage fee.
I know Minneapolis has an incinerator that generates electricity. And you certainly pay to have your garbage picked up.
It's a win/win for everyone really. In theory. Energy generated should offset some of the costs involved in picking up the waste to begin with. Certainly not all though.
I'm curious, what makes the German electrical rate so high? Is it taxes guiding the market toward renewables and ecologically friendly sources? Perhaps a regulatory induced shortfall of production? Maybe a happy oligopoly?
25% is electricity generation, 23% is transmission and bookkeeping, 7% electricity tax, 16% sales tax, 21% EEG-Umlage (renewables reallocation charge), 6% concession levy, and <2% other taxes.
So if you add up all the taxes and levies, they make up half the cost (52%).
Randomlyish chosen relevant link
https://sweden.se/nature/the-swedish-recycling-revolution/