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LIFE-CYCLE EVALUATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES
Citation:
Thorneloe*, S, K. Weitz, S. Nishtala, AND M. Zannes. LIFE-CYCLE EVALUATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. Presented at 8th Int. Waste Management and Landfill Conference, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, 10/1-5/01.
Description:
The paper discusses a life-cycle evaluation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from municipal soild waste (MSW) management in the U.S. (NOTE: Using integrated waste management, recycling/composting, waste-to-energy, and better control of landfill gas, communities across the U.S. are avoiding about 41 million metric tons of carbon equivalents (MMTCE) of GHG emissions. The total quantity of GHG emissions from MSW management was reduced by a facator of 5 (51 to 10 MMTCE) from what it otherwise would have been, despite a more than 70% increase of MSW). The evaluation found that there has been a positive impact on GHG emissions as a result of actions taken by local governments managing MSW. There are additional opportunities for further reductions, but it is important to take into account any potentital tradeoffs with other pollutants by considering multimedia and multipollutant impacts. Although not presented in the paper, the potential carbon that is stored (not released to the atmosphere) was also calculated. The results are directionally similar, but the magnitude of the numbers varies substantially. GHG reductions have also beel calculated for a number of communities, providing information on the current level of GHG emissions and opportunities for further reductions.