Burgeoning of municipal solid waste treatment issues and concerns on climate change have drawn
massive attention. The Taiwanese Government is taking a concerted effort to voluntarily reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to meet global warming protocols. This study evaluated the greenhouse gas
emissions from five municipal solid waste treatment scenarios, including landfilling, waste to energy,
and material recovery. The findings from this study indicate that a material recovery facility (8.08 103
to 1.52 104 kg CO2-eq/day) or a landfill site (4.45 103 to 4.45 104 kg CO2-eq/day) emits less
greenhouse gases than a waste to energy plant (1.10 106 to 4.39 106 kg CO2-eq/day) for handling
20,000 tonne/day of municipal solid waste. The greenhouse gas emissions from a waste to energy plant
are mainly carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, but can be offset by electricity generation and energy recovery.
Furthermore, potential of greenhouse gas mitigation from waste recycling in a material recovery
facility can be more effective than electricity generation in a waste to energy plant. This study provides
valuable insights into the applicability of a policy framework for municipal solid waste management
practices with regards to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.