In this study, a net social cost framework is applied to provide insights on policy issues relating to the cross-border trade in waste fuel. We estimate the net social cost of using imported waste fuel in a highly efficient combined heat and power plant (CHP) in a cold climate by considering both private costs and benefits as well as external costs related to energy production, alternative waste management and fuel transport. We conclude that using imported waste fuel is beneficial from a societal perspective compared to using biofuel, given the wide range of assumptions regarding technical, economic and environmental characteristics. The net social cost is mainly determined by fuel cost advantages and the external cost of greenhouse gas emissions. External costs associated with transports only marginally impact the net social cost of waste imports for incineration. The results are robust to variation in the excess heat utilisation rate, which implies that importing waste for incineration would also be beneficial in countries with warmer climates where district heating networks already exist.

在本研究中，应用净社会成本框架来提供有关废物燃料跨境贸易的政策问题的见解。我们通过考虑私人成本和收益以及与能源生产、替代废物管理和燃料运输相关的外部成本，估计在寒冷气候下在高效热电联产电厂 (CHP) 中使用进口废物燃料的净社会成本. 考虑到技术、经济和环境特征的广泛假设，我们得出的结论是，从社会角度来看，与使用生物燃料相比，使用进口废物燃料是有益的。净社会成本主要由燃料成本优势和温室气体排放的外部成本决定。与运输相关的外部成本对焚烧废物进口的净社会成本的影响很小。结果对于余热利用率的变化是稳健的，这意味着进口废物进行焚烧对于已经存在区域供热网络的气候温暖的国家也是有益的。