Integrated Solid Waste Management: A Lifecycle Inventory

Life is often considered to be a journey. The lifecycle of waste can similarly be considered to be a journey from the cradle (when an item becomes valueless and, usually, is placed in the dustbin) to the grave (when value is restored by creating usable material or energy; or the waste is transformed into emissions to water or air, or into inert material placed in a landfill). This preface provides a route map for the journey the reader of this book will undertake. Who? Who are the intended readers of this book? Waste managers (whether in public service or private companies) will find a holistic approach for improving the environmental quality and the economic cost of managing waste. The book contains general principles based on cutting edge experience being developed across Europe. Detailed data and a computer model will enable operations managers to develop data-based improvements to their systems. Producers oj waste will be better able to understand how their actions can influence the operation of environmentally improved waste management systems. Designers oj products and packages will be better able to understand how their design criteria can improve the compatibility of their product or package with developing, environmentally improved waste management systems. Waste data specialists (whether in laboratories, consultancies or environ­ mental managers of waste facilities) will see how the scope, quantity and quality of their data can be improved to help their colleagues design more effective waste management systems.

1 Introduction.- Summary.- 1.1 What is waste?.- 1.2 Environmental concerns.- 1.3 Environmental objectives.- 1.4 Current approaches: legislation.- 1.5 Economic costs of environmental improvements.- 1.6 An integrated approach to solid waste management.- References.- 2 Integrated waste management.- Summary.- 2.1 Basic requirements.- 2.2 Waste management systems.- 2.3 A hierarchy of waste management options?.- 2.4 Modelling waste management.- References.- 3 Lifecycle inventory: a part of lifecycle assessment.- Summary.- 3.1 What is lifecycle assessment?.- 3.2 Benefits of the lifecycle approach.- 3.3 Structure of a lifecycle assessment.- 3.4 Current state of development.- 3.5 Environmental and economic lifecycle assessments.- 3.6 Lifecycle inventory in reverse.- References.- 4 A lifecycle inventory of solid waste.- Summary.- 4.1 Integrated waste management and lifecycle inventory.- 4.2 A lifecycle inventory of waste.- 4.3 The economic LCI.- 4.4 The computer spreadsheet.- 4.5 The relationship between a lifecycle inventory for waste and product or packaging lifecycle inventories.- References.- 5 Solid waste generation.- Summary.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Solid waste generation in Europe.- 5.3 Solid wastes dealt with in this study.- 5.4 Quantities of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated.- 5.5 Composition of MSW.- 5.6 Variability in MSW generation.- 5.7 Effects of source reduction.- 5.8 MSW classification: need for standardisation.- 5.9 MSW analysis methods.- 5.10 Defining the waste input for the LCI computer spreadsheet.- References.- 6 Pre-sorting and waste collection.- Summary.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Home sorting.- 6.3 Bring versus kerbside collection systems.- 6.4 Collection systems.- 6.5 Integrated collection schemes.- 6.6 Environmental impacts.- 6.7 Economic costs.- 6.8 Operation of the collection module of the LCI spreadsheet.- References.- 7 Central sorting.- Summary.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Central sorting of recyclables at a materials recovery facility (MRF).- 7.3 Sorting of mixed waste for refuse-derived fuel (RDF).- 7.4 Environmental impacts: input-output analysis.- 7.5 Economic costs.- 7.6 Operation of the central sorting module of the LCI spreadsheet.- References.- 8 Materials recycling.- Summary.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Materials recycling processes.- 8.3 Environmental impacts: input-output analysis.- 8.4 Economic costs.- 8.5 Operation of the materials recycling module of the LCI spreadsheet.- References.- 9 Biological treatment.- Summary.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Biological treatment objectives.- 9.3 Overview of biological treatment in Europe.- 9.4 Biological treatment processes.- 9.5 Compost markets.- 9.6 Compost standards.- 9.7 Environmental impacts: input-output analysis.- 9.8 Economic costs.- 9.9 Operation of the biological treatment module of the LCI spreadsheet.- References.- 10 Thermal treatment.- Summary.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Thermal treatment objectives.- 10.3 Current state of thermal treatment in Europe.- 10.4 Mass burn incineration of MSW.- 10.5 Burning of refuse-derived fuel.- 10.6 Burning of source-separated paper and plastic.- 10.7 Emission limits.- 10.8 Public acceptability.- 10.9 Environmental impacts: input-output analysis.- 10.10 Economic costs of thermal treatment.- 10.11 Operation of the thermal treatment module of the LCI spreadsheet.- References.- 11 Landfilling.- Summary.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Landfilling objectives.- 11.3 Current landfilling activity in Europe.- 11.4 Landfilling methods.- 11.5 Environmental impacts: input-output analysis.- 11.6 Economic costs.- 11.7 Operation of the landfilling module of the LCI spreadsheet.- References.- 12 The overall picture.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 From lifecycle inventory results to sustainability.- 12.3 Making comparisons.- 12.4 A case study.- 12.5 Identifying improvement opportunities.- 12.6 Future directions.- 12.7 Operating the IWM-1 LCI spreadsheet.- References.- Postscript.- Appendix 1 Secondary materials nomenclature.- Appendix 2 Waste analysis procedure.- Appendix 3 Programme ratios.- Appendix 4 Terms and definitions.- Appendix 5 Currency conversion values.- Appendix 6 How to use IWM-LCI spreadsheet.- Indexes.- Figures.- Tables.- Boxes.- LCI Boxes.- LCI Data Boxes.- Subjects.- Authors cited.