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HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
Citation:
Thorneloe*, S. A. AND K. Weitz. HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE. Presented at 9th International Waste Management and Landfill Conference, Sardinia, Italy, 6-10 October 2003.
Description:
The paper presents results from the application of a new municipal solid waste (MSW) management planning aid to EPA's new facility in the Research Triangle Park, NC. This planning aid, or decision support tool, is computer software that analyzes the cost and environmental impact of various combinations of waste collection, transfer stations, materials recovery facilities, mixed MSW and yard waste composting, combustion, refuse-derived fuel combustion, and landfill disposal. It computes the cost, net energy requirements, and emissions such as nitrogen oxides and methane from each combination. The analysis of the EPA facility evaluated the net energy consumption and emissions associated with three scenarios for handling the combined 158 tonnes/yr of food waste, yard trimmings, mixed paper, an animal bedding. The scenarios were different combinations of transferring, landfilling (with flaring landfill gas), and composting each of the various components of the combined waste.