Integrated Solid Waste Management: A Lifecycle Inventory

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.- 7.6 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.