IWM case studies and the use ofLCA in countries with developing economies

Dr. Forbes McDougall

Sustainability is :

Environmentallyeffective

Economicallyaffordable

Sociallyacceptable

SUSTAINABILITY

a balance between the needs of the Environment, the Economy and Society

• Environmentally effective Environmentally effective

• Economically affordable Economically affordable • Socially acceptable Socially acceptable

Sustainable Waste Management needs to be :

• Accepting the concept of an integrated approach to solid waste management

• Using a Life Cycle Assessment tool (computer model) to optimise the integrated waste management system

Sustainable solid waste management systems can be engineered by:

• IWM takes an overall approach and manages waste in an environmentally effective and economically affordable way.

• IWM involves the use of a range of different treatment options at a local level.

• IWM considers the entire solid waste stream.

The concept of Integrated Waste Management

Integrated Waste Management includes:

MATERIALSMATERIALS RECYCLINGRECYCLING

BIOLOGICALBIOLOGICALTREATMENTTREATMENT

THERMAL THERMAL TREATMENTTREATMENT LANDFILLLANDFILL

COLLECTIONCOLLECTION&&

SORTINGSORTING

WASTEPublic health issues

WASTEMANAGEMENT

INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT

Optimisation of waste management practices

COLLECTION&

SORTING

MATERIALS

RECYCLING

BIOLOGICAL

TREATMENT

THERMAL

TREATMENT LANDFILL

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Optimisation of resource use

MANAGEMENT

RESOURCES

BIOLOGICAL

TREATMENT

COLLECTION&

SORTING

MATERIALS

RECYCLING

THERMAL

TREATMENTLANDFILL

Optimise waste management Larger than waste management

Waste Management evolution

Study: Towards the Integrated Management of Municipal Solid Waste

• Study carried out in 1998

• The aim was to characterize 'leading edge' waste management systems in Europe

• To identify factors that influenced system development

Study overview

• 11 Systems - not statistically representative

Brescia, Italy

Hampshire, UK

Malmö, Sweden

Pamplona, Spain

Prato, Italy

Vienna, Austria

Helsinki, Finland

Copenhagen, Denmark

Saarbrücken, Germany

Lahn-Dill-Kreis, Germany

Zürich, Switzerland

Quantitative data comparison

Differences in scale Differences in definitions of Municipal Solid Waste

Differences in infrastructure

Different methods of paying for MSW management

Differences in accounting methodology and financing

System drivers identified by waste managers

Good system management

Vision

Stability

Critical mass (scale)Availability of fundingLegislation (+ve or -ve)

Control of all solid wastePublic opinion / Communication

IWM Conclusions• Program variations are extensive

• “Drivers for development” were identified

• An integrated approach to waste management is being adopted at a local level, due to:

1) economic benefits

2) social pressure

3) environmental benefits

• Waste hierarchy only useful as a list of options

• There is a clear evolution from waste management to resources management

• Overall environmental burdens

• (Overall economic cost) • The tool of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) makes

this possible

How can we plan IWM systems that are environmentally and economically sustainable?

OUTPUTSOUTPUTS AirAir EmissionsEmissions

Water Water EmissionsEmissions

Residual Residual LandfillLandfill Material Material

INPUTSINPUTSWasteWaste

EnergyEnergy

Other Other MaterialsMaterials

MoneyMoney

Integrated waste management: a Life Cycle Assessment

COLLECTIONCOLLECTION&&

SORTINGSORTING

SecondarySecondary MaterialsMaterials

CompostCompost UsefulUsefulEnergyEnergy

MATERIALSMATERIALS

RECYCLINGRECYCLING

BIOLOGICALBIOLOGICAL

TREATMENTTREATMENT

THERMAL THERMAL

TREATMENTTREATMENTLANDFILLLANDFILL

PRODUCTSPRODUCTS

• Net energy consumption• Air emissions• Water emissions• Landfill volume (residual)• Recovered materials• Compost

Life Cycle models: Results

LCA for IWM in Countries with developing economies

• Venezuela – Caracas and Puerto Ordaz

• Brazil – Porto Alegre

• Mexico – Cuernavaca and Valle de Bravo

• South Africa

• Saudi Arabia - Jeddah

• India

• China

• Korea

Venezuela, Caracas 1998

• A comparative LCA, that investigated the burdens associated with recycling different materials within the establishment of a new materials recycling program.

• Cardinale, P. (1998). Analisis de ciclo de vida: Una herramienta de gerenci ambiental. Debates IESA. PP.34-38. Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración. Venezuela.

Venezuela, Puerto Ordaz 2001

• Project to evaluate the environmental burden of the existing waste management system and to investigate the environmental burdens of a number of possible developments of this system.

• Propuesta para el Manejo Integrado de los residuos solidos en una localidad Venezolana – aplicando la tecnica de inventario de ciclo de vida. pp107. ISBN: 980-07-7811-X.

Mexico

• Mexico adopted a new law in 2003 that promotes an integrated approach to waste management supported by LCA to ensure a data based decision making process.

• Last year a LCA study in Cuernavaca, Morelos was completed. Unfortunately the Mayor of the city was not re-elected and therefore the conclusions of the study are yet to be applied.

• Currently a study is underway in Valle de Bravo, México State, population 40,000. A waste characterisation has been completed and the LCA modelling will be completed by the end of 2004. The Mayor of this city has just begun his 3 year term so application of the results is likely.

Saudi Arabia - Jeddah

• A PhD student is investigating the environmental burdens of the current waste management system in Jeddah.

• The aim of the project is to develop a number of alternative integrated systems in consultation with local Government

• The evolution of the waste management system in Jeddah will be guided by the results of this LCA.

IWM and LCA Conclusions• As waste management systems evolve, the IWM concept and LCA tools can help us move towards affordable environmental sustainability.

• Using LCA is better than other arbitrary approaches.

• Waste characterisation and understanding of total waste arisings are needed, to make better decisions for every waste management system.

• A variety of waste management systems are required to meet local needs especially in countries with developing economies.

• Limited waste management budgets make the use of LCA tools even more important to ensure that

money is not wasted on systems that deliver sub-optimal environmental results.