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Applying waste management scenarios in the Peloponnese region in Greece: a critical analysis in the frame of life cycle assessment

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to apply life cycle assessment in the waste management sector, in order to compare the environmental performance of different waste management methods. The methods that are studied are: landfilling, aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment, incineration and recycling, focusing on mass and energy balances and the environmental performance of each applied scenario. The Peloponnese Region in Greece was selected as a case for the application of this methodology and more specifically its largest municipalities, where a significant amount of waste is presented. The conducted LCA study proves the necessity of the adoption of an integrated waste management system and indicates its principal objectives by measuring environmental impacts. Thermal scenario contributes significant to the mitigation on the Greenhouse Gases. On the other hand, separation at source and recycling practices provides significant benefits to the abiotic depletion impact.

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Abbreviations

AU:

Administrative unit

LCA:

Life cycle assessment

LCT:

Life cycle thinking

MBT:

Mechanical biological treatment

MRF:

Material recycling facility

MSW:

Municipal solid waste

NPV:

Net present value

RDF:

Refuse-derived fuel

SETAC:

Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

WtE:

Waste to energy

WTS:

Waste transfer station

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aristotle University, Box 483, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    I.-S. Antonopoulos, A. Karagiannidis, T. Tsatsarelis & G. Perkoulidis

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  1. I.-S. Antonopoulos
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  2. A. Karagiannidis
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  3. T. Tsatsarelis
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  4. G. Perkoulidis
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Correspondence to I.-S. Antonopoulos.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Antonopoulos, IS., Karagiannidis, A., Tsatsarelis, T. et al. Applying waste management scenarios in the Peloponnese region in Greece: a critical analysis in the frame of life cycle assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 2499–2511 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1139-y

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