Solid waste optimization life‐cycle framework in Python (SwolfPy)

The urbanization process contributes to the growth of solid waste generation and causes an increase in environmental impacts and failures in the management of solid waste. The number of dumps is a concern due to the limited implementation and safe disposal of this waste. The interest in sustainable techniques has been growing in relation to waste management, which is largely absorbed by the civil construction sector. This work aimed to review plastic waste, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET), that can be incorporated with construction materials, such as concrete, mortars, asphalt mixtures, and paving. The use of life-cycle assessment (LCA) is related, as a tool that allows the sustainability of products and processes to be enhanced in the long term. After analyzing the recent literature, it was identified that studies related to plastic wastes in construction materials concentrate sustainability around the alternative destination of waste. Since the plastic waste from different production chains are obtained, it was possible to affirm the need for a broader assessment, such as the LCA, providing greater quantification of data making the alternative processes and products more sustainable. The study contributes to enhance sustainability in alternative building materials through LCA.

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Sensitivity analysis and improvements of the recycling rate in municipal solid waste life cycle assessment: Focus on a Latin American developing context

Waste Management ◽

10.1016/j.wasman.2021.04.043 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 128 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Navarro Ferronato ◽

Luca Moresco ◽

Gabriela Edith Guisbert Lizarazu ◽

Marcelo Antonio Gorritty Portillo ◽

Fabio Conti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Latin American ◽

Recycling Rate

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Environmental and energy performances of the Italian municipal solid waste incineration system in a life cycle perspective

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x211003946 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0734242X2110039

Author(s):

Federico Sisani ◽

Amani Maalouf ◽

Francesco Di Maria

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Energy Recovery ◽

Waste Incineration ◽

Primary Energy ◽

Municipal Solid Waste Incineration ◽

Recovery Scheme ◽

Assessment Approach ◽

Average Quantity

The environmental and energy performances of the Italian municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) system was investigated by a life cycle assessment approach. On average the 39 MSWIs operating in Italy in 2018 treated about 6,000,000 Mg of residual municipal solid waste (RMSW) recovering on average from 448 kWh Mg−1 RMSW to 762 kWh Mg−1 RMSW of electricity and from 732 kWh Mg−1 RMSW to 1102 kWh Mg−1 RMSW of heat. The average quantity of CO2eq Mg−1 RMSW emitted ranged from about 800 up to about 1000 depending on the size and on the energy recovery scheme of the facility. Avoided impacts (i.e., negative values) were detected for the kg PM2,5eq Mg−1 RMSW and for human health (disability-adjusted life year Mg−1 RMSW). The determination of the hybrid primary energy index (MJ Mg−1 RMSW) indicated that mainly large size facilities and those operating according to a power and heat energy recovery scheme are effectively able to replace other primary energies by the exploitation of the lower heating values of the RMSW.

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