Evaluation of basic fuel properties of waste from renovation and construction selected from municipal wastes

The article presents a research issue related to the use as fuels of selected renovation and construction wastes from the municipal wastes. Production of fuels from wastes implies many positive aspects manifested in the decrease of the stream of wastes directed to landfills, increase of the level of wastes recovery, decrease of emission of greenhouse gases, saving of natural fuels and financial profit consisting on lower prices of fuels from wastes in comparison to the prices of fossil fuels. The article collects and discusses results of my own tests of basic fueling properties such as: moisture content, ash content, content of flammable elements, content of volatile substances, temperature of ignition, calorific value and content of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Hg). Tests covered selected renovation and construction wastes separated from the stream of municipal wastes, i.e. polymer wastes in the form of wall panels, water pipes, heating pipes made of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride as well as wastes from the construction carpentry in the form of two types of door wings and two types of floor panels of various abrasibility grade. Analysed wastes are a precious source of energy thanks to their properties. Test results achieved help decide preliminarily whether the wastes may be used for the production of fuels or not. At the same time they set a base to plan further analysis to determine their optimal transformation.