Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T04:01:39.506Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Life cycle thinking as a decision tool for waste managementpolicy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2013

D. Nelen ,
A. Van der Linden ,
I. Vanderreydt  and
K. Vrancken
Get access

Abstract

The European Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) explicitly specifies the hierarchyfor waste management: prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling, other recoveryactions, disposal. When selecting waste management options, this waste hierarchy should befollowed. A deviation can only be justified by Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) on the overallimpacts. The application of this principle in the Flemish waste management practicetriggered the need for evaluation of treatment options for several waste streams.Alternative treatments were evaluated for waste batteries, used frying oils and waste oil.The evaluation methodology combined life cycle assessment with technical and economicalviability criteria. These cases show that LCT does not allow to establish a “generalpriority order”. In each case reasons for deviation from the standard waste hierarchycould be given, but also none of the evaluated options can be considered as the best. Theevaluation showed that the priority is largely dependent on location-specificcharacteristics of inputs, outputs, processes and installations and that the establishmentof local and global environmental priorities always implies a value choice. In thispresentation, we will present the results of the three cases and provide a methodologicalframework for life cycle thinking in waste management policy.

Keywords

Life Cycle Thinking (LCT)waste hierarchywaste treatmentrecyclingEnd-of-Life (EoL)waste batteriesused frying oilswaste oilLife Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Type
Research Article
Information
Metallurgical Research & Technology , Volume 110 , Issue 1: Social Value of Materials , 2013 , pp. 17 - 28
Copyright
© EDP Sciences 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

European Commission – Joint Research Centre – Institute for Environment and Sustainability: International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook – Review schemes for Life Cycle Assessment, 1st edition March 2010, EUR 24710 EN, Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union, 2010
Kloepffer, W., Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 13 (2008) 89-95
JRC Supporting environmentally sound decisions in waste management, A technical guide to life cycle thinking and assessment in waste management for waste experts and LCA practitioners, 2010
A.L. Nicholson, et al., End-of-life LCA allocation methods: Open loop recycling impacts on robustness of material selection decisions, Sustainable Systems and Technology, 2009, ISSST ’09, IEEE International Symposium on. 2009, © Copyright 2009 IEEE
G. Bergsma, M. Sevenster, End-of-life best approach for allocating recycling benefits in LCAs of metal packaging, Recycling rate for metal packaging is end-of-life recycling figure, Delft, CE Delft, 2011
K. Briffaerts, F. Sleeuwaert, I. Vanderreydt, R. Verhé, K. Vrancken, Vergelijkende levenscyclusanalyse van toepassingen van dierlijk vet en gebruikte frituurvetten en –oliën. Study commissioned by OVAM, conducted by VITO in collaboration with Ghent University, 2008. Available at http://www.ovam.be/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/176?actionReq=actionPubDetail&fileItem=1719
K. Briffaerts, C. Spirinckx, A. Van der Linden, K. Vrancken, Integrale evaluatie van verwerkingstechnieken voor Belgische afvalbatterijen (zinkkool- en alkaline fractie), Study commissioned by OVAM, conducted by VITO, 2006
Briffaerts, K., Spirinckx, C., Van der Linden, A., Vrancken, K., Waste Manag. 29 (2009) 2321-2331
D. Nelen, A. Van der Linden, I. Vanderreydt, Assessment of treatment options for waste oil, Study commissioned by OVAM, conducted by VITO, 2006. Available at: http://www.ovam.be/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/176?actionReq=actionPubDetail&fileItem=2809
H. Fehrenbach, Ecological and energetic assessment of re-refining used oils to base oils: Substitution of primarily produced base oils including semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds, Institute for energy and Environmental Research (IFEU), Heidelberg, Germany, 2005
SBC No. 97/006, Technical Guidelines on used oil re-refining or other re-uses of previously used oil (R9), Basel Convention Series/SBC No: 97/006, 1997
JRC, A guide to Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment in Waste Management for policy-makers and business, 2010
M. Tolinski, Plastics and Sustainability, Towards a Peaceful Coexistence between Bio-based and Fossil Fuel-based Plastics, 2011, John Wiley & Sons, 296 p.
Jeswani, H.K., Azapagic, A., Schepelmann, P., Ritthoff, M., J. Clean. Prod. 18 (2010) 120-127
Curran, M.A., Environ. prog. 22 (2003) 277-292
Saner, S., Walser, T., Vadebo, C., Int. J. Life Cycle Assess. 17 (2012) 504-510