Microsoft Word - Environmental benefits of recycling 2010 update.doc

Appendix 5 Summary of key elements

Appendix 5 Summary of key elements from the studies on food & garden waste...........................

Food & garden ‐ n°1

Title

Using LCA to evaluate impacts and resources conservation

potential of composting: A case study of the Asti District in

Italy

Year 2008

Author Blengini et al

Case

Material composition

Sub‐scenario Composting Landfill

Virgin material

Material marginal: which? / /

Electricity marginal: which? / /

Heat marginal: which? / /

Co‐products dealt with? / /

Recovered material

Material marginal: which? / /

Electricity marginal: which? / /

Heat marginal: which? / /

Co‐products dealt with? Yes Yes

Material recovery included? Yes No

Type of recycling Open loop /

In which ratio does recycled material substitute virgin

material? //

General

Technology

Infrastructures taken into account? waste containers and bags wastelandfill^ containers facility construction^ and^ bags,^

Transport included? Yes Yes

Energy production

Produced energy substitutes electricity? / No

Produced energy substitutes heat? / No

Avoided processes ‐ credits fertiliser, steel /

Material substitutes fertiliser, steel /

Carbon sequestration issue taken into account? Yes^ (173^ kgwaste^ of^ CO2)‐eq/ton^ of^ /

Waste characteristics

Heating value / /

Degradation rate (over  100  years) / /

Incineration

Alternative use of incineration capacity included? / /

Composting

Compost spreading for composting taken into account? No /

Compost leaching after spreading taken into account? No /

Carbon binding of compost included? Yes /

% of carbon remaining in compost after  100  uears / /

Landfill

Methane emissions included? Yes Yes

LFG efficiency / 0,00%

1[OR]

Material

disposal

Bio‐waste from Households

Material

production

Material

recovery