Life cycle inventory for municipal solid waste management options

Abstract

A case study was developed for a region similar to porto (portugal), in order to demonstrate. the use of life cycle inventory as a tool for assessing the environmental impact of municipal solid waste (msw) management systems, and obtain preliminary data on energy consumption and global warming potential associated with several msw treatment options. typical. msw production and composition of that region was assumed as well as eu-rr different scenarios according to the treatment method used: landrlling, composting. incineration and biogasification. in the particular cases of composting and biogasification both alternatives of using the compost and either its landfilling or incineration were evaluated. the obtained results show a surplus of energy from incineration of all msw as well as the compost, when there is no market for it. landeilling presents the highest global. Warming potential. Followed by the incineration scenario