Microsoft Word - Environmental benefits of recycling 2010 update.doc

Paper & card ‐ n°4

Title
Solid waste management and greenhouse gases: A life cycle
assessment of emissions and sinks
Year 2006
Author US EPA

Case

Material composition

Sub‐scenario Recycling Incineration Landfilling

Virgin material

Material marginal: which? Corrugated^

cardboard //

Electricity marginal: which? US average / /

Steam marginal: which? ///

Co‐products dealt with? ///

Recovered material

Material marginal: which? Corrugated^

cardboard

//

Electricity marginal: which? /fossilfossil

Steam marginal: which? ///

Co‐products dealt with? ///

Material recovery included? Yes / /

Type of recycling closed loop / /

Alternative use of land/wood included? No / /

In which ratio does recycled material substitute virgin material? 0,93 / /

General

Technology USA USA USA

Infrastructures taken into account? ///

Transport included? Yes Yes Yes

Energy production

Produced energy substitutes electricity? /YesYes

Produced energy substitutes heat? /NoNo

Avoided processes ‐ credits Paper production Electricity^

production

Electricity

production

Material substitutes

Corrugated

cardboard

//

Carbon sequestration issue taken into account? Yes No No

Waste characteristics

Heating value /

14.1 million Btu

per ton /

Degradation rate (over  100  years) ///

Incineration

Alternative use of incineration capacity included? No No No

Efficiency ///

Composting

Compost spreading for composting taken into account? ///

Compost leaching after spreading taken into account? ///

Carbon storage taken into account? ///

Landfill

Methane emissions included? //Yes

Efficiency ///

Carbon storage taken into account? //Yes

Corrugated cardboard

Material

recovery

Material

production

Material

disposal

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