Life-Cycle-based Solid Waste Management. II: Illustrative Applications

Abstract

A companion paper described the development of the integrated solid waste management (ISWM) model that considers cost, energy, and environmental releases associated with management of municipal solid waste. This paper demonstrates the application of the ISWM model to a hypothetical, but realistic, case study. Several solid waste management (SWM) scenarios are studied, including the variation in energy and environmental emissions among alternate SWM strategies; the effect of mandated waste diversion (through recycling and other beneficial uses of waste such as combustion to recover energy) on environmental releases and cost; the tradeoff between cost and the level of waste diversion; and the tradeoff between cost and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the flexibility of the model is illustrated by the identification of alternate SWM strategies that meet approximately the same objectives using distinctly different combinations of unit processes. This flexibility may be of importance to local solid waste management planners who must implement new SWM programs. Use of the model illustrates the potential impact of solid waste management policies and regulations on global environmental emissions.