Microsoft Word - Environmental benefits of recycling 2010 update.doc

13

25

‐175%

‐150%

‐125%

‐100%

‐75%

‐50%

‐25%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

125%

150%

175%

Relative difference with composting according

to the number of cases

>150%

<‐150%

alternative

preferred to

composting

composting

preferred to

alternative Depletion^ of^ abiotic^ resources

Recycling Incineration with

energy recovery

Landfill

Figure 27 Relative difference between the impacts from the different end-of-life options vs. composting for depletion of natural resources for
biopolymers. The size of the “bubble” is proportional to the number of cases coming up with a value within the same range as another.

1

22

33

‐175%

‐150%

‐125%

‐100%

‐75%

‐50%

‐25%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

125%

150%

175%

Relative difference with incineration with energy recovery

according to the number of cases

>150%

<‐150%

incineration with

energy recovery

preferred to

alternative

alternative preferred to

incineration with

energy recovery

Depletion of abiotic resources

Recycling Composting Landfill

Figure 28 Relative difference between the impacts from the different end-of-life options vs. incineration for depletion of natural resources for
biopolymers. The size of the “bubble” is proportional to the number of cases coming up with a value within the same range as another.