Microsoft Word - Environmental benefits of recycling 2010 update.doc

(Jeff_L) #1

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? Newspaper / /
Electricity marginal: which? US average / /
Steam marginal: which? ///
Co‐products dealt with? ///
Recovered material
Material marginal: which? Newspaper / /
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? 0,94 / /
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 Paper production Electricity^
production
Material substitutes Newspaper / /
Carbon sequestration issue taken into account? Yes No No
Waste characteristics
Heating value / 15.9^ 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

Newspaper

Material
recovery

Material
production

Material
disposal

4[NS]
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