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Integrated Solid Waste Management: A Lifecycle Inventory

verfasst von: Dr. P. White, Dr. M. Franke, P. Hindle

Verlag: Springer US

Enthalten in: Professional Book Archive

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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.

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

1. Introduction

Abstract

The concept of waste as a by-product of human activity and the current environmental concerns over waste disposal are discussed.From these,environmental objectives for waste management are formulated. Current approaches to reaching these objectives rely on legislation,both end-of-pipe and strategic.The principles of,and difficulties with,present legislation are discussed.An alternative approach,integrated management is introduced as the basic theme of this book.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

2. Integrated waste management

Abstract

This chapter discusses the needs of society: less waste, and then an effective way to manage the inevitable waste still produced. Such a waste management system needs to be both environmentally and economically sustainable and is likely to be integrated, market-oriented, flexible and operated on a regional scale. The current hierarchy of waste management options is critically discussed, and in its place is suggested a holistic approach that assesses the overall environmental impacts and economic costs of the whole system. Lifecycle techniques are introduced for comparing the overall environmental impacts and economic costs.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

3. Lifecycle inventory: a part of lifecycle assessment

Abstract

Lifecycle assessment (LCA) is introduced. It is a tool to predict the overall environmental impact of a product or service. It consists of four stages: goal definition, inventory, impact analysis and valuation, of which the first two are well developed and the latter two in need of further work. In view of this, the analysis of solid waste management will be limited to a lifecycle inventory (LCI) (comprising goal definition and inventory stages) and not involve a detailed impact analysis or valuation. Economic lifecycle assessment is an equally important, although separate, part of an overall assessment.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

4. A lifecycle inventory of solid waste

Abstracts

The lifecycle inventory technique described in Chapter 3 is applied to waste management. The possible uses for an inventory of different waste management options are discussed. The functional unit for the comparison is defined, as are the system boundaries. This includes defining the ‘cradle’ and ‘grave’ for waste. The general structure of waste management systems, which forms the basis of the LCI model, is mapped out, and the computer spreadsheet developed to conduct the LCI is introduced.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

5. Solid waste generation

Abstract

This chapter starts the construction of the LCI model for solid waste. It attempts to assess the amount and composition of solid waste likely to be generated in a given area. The lack of comprehensive and standardised data collection is one of the limiting factors in this process, and in the development of effective solid waste management in general. This chapter presents the data currently available on the generation and composition of solid waste in general, and of municipal solid waste (MSW) in particular, for Europe. These data are limited; they are incomplete and are based on different definitions of waste categories. Definitions are given for the type of waste that will be dealt with in this book, namely MSW comprising of household (collected and delivered), commercial and institutional waste. The limitations of present classification schemes are discussed and new developments in waste analysis outlined. The first module of the computer LCI spreadsheet (IWM-1), which defines the waste entering a solid waste management system, is described.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

6. Pre-sorting and waste collection

Abstract

This chapter emphasises the importance of the collection operation in integrated waste management. It looks at the processes of home sorting and waste collection, from the creation of waste up to its delivery at a central sorting or treatment site. The characteristics and effectiveness of different collection methods are discussed, including both collection of separated fractions and the collection of commingled materials. The limitations of the common division into ‘bring’ and ‘kerbside’ schemes when comparing systems are emphasised, as is the need for effective communication between waste collectors and waste generators. The main environmental impacts of pre-sorting and collection processes (due to the vehicle transport involved) are discussed, and available data presented to allow these to be calculated. Limited information is also given on likely economic costs of collection systems. Finally, the module of the computer spreadsheet which models waste collection systems is presented and explained.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

7. Central sorting

Abstract

This chapter deals with two distinct types of central sorting: sorting of mixed recyclables at a materials recovery facility (MRF) and the sorting of mixed waste to produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The stages of each sorting process are described, as are the waste inputs and the outputs in terms of both products and residues. Available data are presented on the typical energy consumption of the two sorting operations. Economic data,both processing costs and revenues from the sale of recovered materials, are included where possible. The central sorting module of the lifecycle inventory model for solid waste is presented and explained.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

8. Materials recycling

Abstract

The reprocessing of recovered materials into recycled materials is outside the boundary of the waste management system that is modelled in this book. Recovered material that is reprocessed can, however, be used to replace virgin materials, and this may result in overall savings in energy consumption and emissions. In this chapter, the recycling processes used for each material are briefly described and their energy consumption and emissions quantified where possible. These are then compared with the energy consumption and emissions associated with the production of an equivalent amount of the virgin material, so that overall savings or additional costs can be calculated. This is presented as an option within the computer LCI model, so that the savings associated with the production of recovered material can be considered in the overall balance.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

9. Biological treatment

Abstract

Biological treatment can be used to treat both the organic and paper fractions of solid waste. Two main treatment types exist: composting (aerobic) and biogasification (anaerobic). Either can be used as a pre-treatment to reduce the volume and stabilise material for disposal in landfills or as a way to produce valuable products, such as compost and (in biogasification) biogas plus compost, from the waste stream. The inputs and outputs of each process are discussed, using available data. Further development of biological valorisation depends on the further development of markets, and agreed standards, for the compost products.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

10. Thermal treatment

Abstract

Thermal treatment can be regarded as either a pre-treatment of waste prior to final disposal, or as a means of valorising waste by recovering energy. It includes both the burning of mixed MSW in municipal incinerators and the burning of selected parts of the waste stream as a fuel. These different methods reflect the different objectives that thermal treatment can address. This chapter describes the various thermal treatment processes, and their use across Europe. It then attempts to quantify the environmental factors associated with thermal treatment, in terms of energy consumption and, emissions, and the economic costs. Finally the thermal treatment module of the LCI spreadsheet is presented and explained.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

11. Landfilling

Abstract

Landfilling is considered as a waste treatment process, with its own inputs and outputs, rather than as a final disposal method for solid waste. Land-filling essentially involves long-term storage for inert materials along with relatively uncontrolled decomposition of biodegradable waste. The use of landfilling across Europe is described and landfilling methods are discussed, including techniques for landfill gas and leachate control, collection and treatment. Using available data, an attempt is made to quantify the inputs and outputs of the landfilling process in both environmental and economic terms. Finally, the landfilling module, which completes the computer LCI spreadsheet for solid waste systems, is presented.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

12. The overall picture

Abstract

This book began with a discussion of sustainable development; the need to produce more value from goods and services, with less environmental impact and depletion of resources. When applied to waste management, environmental sustainability requires the production of more value from recovered materials and energy, with the consumption of less energy and the production of less emissions to air, water and land (Box 12.1). The lifecycle inventory (LCI) technique gives us a way to quantify the ‘more’ and the ‘less’; to predict the amounts of materials that will be recovered, the amount of energy consumed and the likely emissions that will be released. This book has constructed a lifecycle inventory (LCI) for municipal solid waste. Starting with a definition of the objectives of the LCI and the system boundaries in Chapter 4, and then definition of the quantity and composition of the waste that is being managed in Chapter 5, each stage in the lifecycle of waste has been described and discussed. For each of the processes from dustbin to grave, i.e. from waste pre-sorting in the home, through collection and waste treatment, to final disposal, the environmental inputs and outputs have been quantified, and generic values suggested. When all of these individual modules are assembled together, it is possible to calculate the overall picture, that is the environmental burden of the whole waste management system.

P. White, M. Franke, P. Hindle

Backmatter

Titel: Integrated Solid Waste Management: A Lifecycle Inventory
verfasst von: Dr. P. White
Dr. M. Franke
P. Hindle
Copyright-Jahr: 1995
Verlag: Springer US
Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4615-2369-7
Print ISBN: 978-0-8342-1311-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2369-7

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