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Methods, Metrics, and Indicators Available for Identifying and Quantifying Economic and Social Impacts Associated with Beneficial Reuse Decisions: A Review of the Literature
Citation:
Luxton, T., D. Carson, G. Evans, M. Kemper, K. Scheckel, S. Wright, AND H. Thurston. Methods, Metrics, and Indicators Available for Identifying and Quantifying Economic and Social Impacts Associated with Beneficial Reuse Decisions: A Review of the Literature. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-14/237, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
The primary goal of this project was to identify the data, metrics, indicators, and methods currently being used to quantify (i.e., measure/evaluate) the economic and social impacts of beneficial reuse and other environmental decisions. Such information is critical for providing a comprehensive, sustainability-based assessment of beneficial reuse projects. The results of this type of assessment are necessary to provide information to support decision-making by regulatory bodies at the federal, state, and community levels.
Description:
Industries in the United States generate large volumes of non-hazardous wastes, sludges, by-products, and spent materials that require disposal or other end-of-life management. Solid-waste management stakeholders are increasingly employing or researching methods for beneficial reuse of these wastes in industrial and commercial applications. The acceleration of this research, both internationally and domestically, has seen numerous organizations, such as the United Kingdom Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), take the lead in presenting information depicting the various benefits and drawbacks associated with such reuse. Although the research and related policy implementation should take into account the environmental, economic, and social impacts of beneficial reuse, thus far, this field has been characterized by an extensive focus on the technical feasibility of beneficial reuse and associated environmental impacts. To identify information and tools for evaluating economic and social impacts affiliated economically and socially acceptable forms of beneficial reuse, a review and evaluation of the existing literature on Economic Impact Assessment (EcIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) of beneficial reuse. This report documents the search methodology, the results, and the conclusions of that review, with the purpose of determining the data, metrics, and methods required to identify and quantify economic and social impacts of beneficial reuse decisions. Equipped with such knowledge the U.S. EPA and other organizations can develop improved decision-making frameworks and programs to better promote beneficial reuse in U.S. communities.