02.0 Waste - its origin, its destination... 2337KB Mar 29 2010 05:00:20 AM

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Waste – its Origin
Waste Threatens Sustainability,
Characterization of Waste

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Waste is an Environmental Problem…
Limits to Waste Absorption

Waste and the environment:
Environment:
resource base
Environment
as waste sink
Waste

Residuals
(Pollution)

1. Waste contains hazardous
materials that affect the
environment
2. Natural environment has a
certain assimilative
capacity; pollution =
residual flow > assimilative
capacity

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Waste is an Economic Problem…
Waste is a flow or a stock of materials with a negative economic

value, which implies it is cheaper to discard these materials than to
use (Pichtel 2005)
Materials economic value curve

Waste and the economy:
1. Waste is lost economic
value

Economic
capital

2. Waste causes nuisance,
odour and is a threat to
aesthetics
3. Waste disposal entails
considerable costs
Time

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Waste of Today Causes a Future Problem…
Waste residuals of today are the problems of tomorrow,…next
year,…next century…
Review
Review(1.5)…
(1.5)…
Pollution
Pollutionproblems
problemsdepend
dependon:
on:
•Environmental
•Environmentalimpact
impactpotential
potentialofofmaterials
materials

•Spatial
•Spatialscale
scaleofofimpact
impact
•Damage
•Damagepotential
potential(severity
(severityofofhazards)
hazards)
•Degree
•Degreeofofexposure
exposure
•Remediation
•Remediationand
andreversibility
reversibilitytime
time
•Quantity
•Quantityofofmaterials
materialsused

used(throughput)
(throughput)

Waste and the future:
1. Waste has potential long-term
impacts
Typical example: nuclear waste
2. Future generations bear the
consequences of today’s waste
discharge
Typical examples: global GHG
emissions and climate change,
leachate from landfills
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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

…therefore, Waste Imposes a Threat to Sustainability

Review
Review(1.5):
(1.5):
People

int

nd
en

ce

Waste

…Sustainable
development is
development that meets
the needs of the present
without compromising
the ability of future

generations to meet
their own needs …

en
nd

in t
er
de

e
ep

pe

d
er
ce

Decisions

WCED Our Common Future
Profit

Planet

interdependence

5/22

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

We Need Effective Waste Management
•

To protect the environment

•

To ensure economic development

•

To reduce potential impacts on future generations

Effective waste management involves understanding of the
waste problem and thus a clear characterization and
classification of waste types
• To assign its impacts (environmental, economic and societal)
• To improve stakeholder involvement (we all produce waste)
• To guide adequate management (technologies and strategies)
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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Awareness of

impacts

Characterization
of waste

Involvement of
stakeholders

Effective waste
management

Development of
adequate
strategies

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Characterization through Classification
Classification is possible in several ways, according
• Generator type
• Composition and chemical/physical properties
• Hazardousness
Generator
Property
• Etc.
Chemical

Organic
Anorganic

Households

Industries

Aspect

Physical

Solid
Liquid
Gaseous

Hazard
potential

Ignitable
Corrosive
Reactive
Toxic

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Waste is produced throughout the product lifecycle

Generator Types: Waste Originates From a Variety of
Sources
Generator type
Waste stream (examples)
inputs

Municipal

Food scrap, office paper, yard waste, plastics, glass, textiles

Hazardous

Petroleum refining residuals, electroplating solvents

Industrial

Coal combustion, pulp, iron scrap, chemicals

Medical

Infectious agents, waste human blood, pathological waste

Universal

Batteries, agricultural pesticides, thermostats

Construction

Concrete, asphalt, roofing

Radioactive

Uranium fuel, cleanup items from nuclear plants

Mining

Rock, smelting residuals

Agricultural

Animal manures, crop residuals, pesticides

residuals
Extraction

Production

Use

Disposal

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Properties: Waste has Chemical and Physical
Properties
Chemical properties and examples:

Chemical

Organic

Lipids
Carbohydrates
Crude fibers
Proteins

Anorganic

Physical properties and examples:
Physical

Solid
Liquid
Gaseous

•paper
•some plastics
•food
•yard waste
•some textiles
•rubber

•Glass
•Metals
•Dirt (ashes)
•Some bulky wastes
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Industrial waste water (IWW)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG))

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Properties: Waste May Have a Certain Hazard
Potential

Hazard
potential

Ignitable
Corrosive
Reactive
Toxic

Cleaning solvents, paint thinners
Acidic wastes from metal plating
Explosives, electroplating solutions
Paint waste, dental amalgam, batteries

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Waste is Often Highly Heterogenous
Example: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
As a function of source (many generator types)
• Residential (single-, multi-family homes)
• Commercial (restaurants, retail companies)
• Institutional (schools, hospitals)
• Industrial (packaging and administrative businesses)
As a function of property (mixed chemical composition)
• Organic (paper, plastics, food, yard waste, textiles and rubber)
• Inorganic (glass, metals, ashes, refrigerators, stoves)
• Hazardous (pesticides, batteries, paint containers)

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Awareness of
impacts

Characterization
of waste

Involvement of
stakeholders

Effective waste
management

Development of
adequate
strategies

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Classification of Waste Increases Awareness of
Impacts (1)
Example: Electronic waste in MSW disposal
• Generator type: households and offices
• Products composition: computers, cell phones, televisions, copiers
etc.
• Materials composition:





impacts

Organic: glass
Anorganic: plastic, metals (iron, copper, aluminium)
Hazard potential: heavy metals (lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury)
In landfills, e-waste is the main source of heavy metals (Pichtel 2005)

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Classification of Waste Increases Awareness of
Impacts (2)
Environmental impacts of e-waste disposal:
• Air (CO2 and toxic emissions from incinerators)
•
•

Soil (leachate from landfills and wet deposition of
emissions from incinerators)
Water (leachate of landfills to groundwater)

Economic impacts of e-waste disposal:
•

Manufacturing of (new) electronics requires extraction of
scarce resources such as precious metals, oil and energy

•

Treatment (including recycling) is additional cost-entry

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Awareness of
impacts

Characterization
of waste

Involvement of
stakeholders

Effective waste
management

Development of
adequate
strategies

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Classification of Waste Encourages the
Involvement of Stakeholders
Example: Electronic waste in MSW
Stakeholders from:
• extraction phase: oil companies, mining
heavy metals
• production phase: chemical industry,
manufacturing of glass, electronic
components and plastics
• use phase: energy consumption
• disposal phase: households and businesses

inputs

residuals
Extraction

Production

Use

Disposal

Waste: ‘who is responsible?’

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Awareness of
impacts

Characterization
of waste

Involvement of
stakeholders

Effective waste
management

Development of
adequate
strategies

18/22

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Classification of Waste Encourages Development of
Adequate Strategies
Classification data

Chemical

Organic
Anorganic

Physical

Solid
Liquid
Gaseous

Hazard
potential

Ignitable
Corrosive
Reactive
Toxic

Technology design and applications

Determines applicability of waste materials for recycling
and for fuels in utilities and for agricultural fertilizers;
prediction of gaseous composition of emissions from
incinerators and leachate from landfills
Determines transport and processing requirements;
prediction of combustion characteristics and landfill
lifetime (volume of waste compared to landfill capacity)
Determines the design requirements of long-term
storage facilities; requires safe transportation; guides
urban planning around hazardous waste landfills
(because of health risks and low concentrations can
already have adverse health effects

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Awareness of
impacts

Characterization
of waste

Involvement of
stakeholders

Effective waste
management

Development of
adequate
strategies

20/22

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

Data on Waste is Useful for Adequate Waste
Management
•

•

•

•

To organize recycling programmes:
Example: residential collection programmes for televisions, audio
and stereo equipment etc.; extended producer responsibility (EPR)
To design and operate material recovery facilities
Example: high recyclability of aluminium, iron, tin, copper, nickel,
gold and silver from electronic waste in MSW (Pichtel 2005)
To design optimal municipal incinerators
Example: filter systems and capturing of heavy metals in bottom
ash and gas residuals
To reduce risks and amount of waste generated and reduce costs
Example: exclusion of hazardous waste products from MSW,
impose cleaner production strategies, improve leachate properties,
prevent groundwater contamination
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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.1 – Characterization of Waste

More about adequate strategies in waste
management:
Section 2.3:
• Waste prevention: Cleaner production
• Eco-efficiency
• Industrial Ecology

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2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Solid Waste – Environmental
Threats
Solid waste in relation to
environmental threats - IPCC

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Municipal Solid Waste
 Biodegradable waste: food and kitchen waste, green
waste, paper (can also be recycled).
 Recyclable material: paper, glass, bottles, cans, metals,
certain plastics, etc.
 Inert waste: construction and demolition waste, dirt,
rocks, debris.
 Composite wastes: waste clothing, Tetra Packs, waste
plastics such as toys.
 Domestic hazardous waste (also called "household
hazardous waste") & toxic waste: medication, paints,
chemicals, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, spray cans,
fertilizer and pesticide containers, batteries, shoe
polish.

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Solid waste - Landfill

GHG

Leachate

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Environmental impacts can be
clustered into six categories:
 Global warming
 Photochemical oxidant creation
 Abiotic resource depletion
 Acidification
 Eutrophication
 Ecotoxicity to water

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Solid Waste Disposal Sites (SWDS)
produce Greenhouse gases (GHG) like:
 Methane (CH4)
 Biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2)
 Non methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs)
 Small amounts of nitrous oxide (N2O), nitrogen oxides
(NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO)

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Solid waste - Landfill

Simplified Landfill Methane Mass Balance
Methane (CH4) produced (mass/time) =
Σ(CH4 recovered + CH4 emitted + CH4 oxidized)
(From Bogner, J., M. ea, Waste Management, In Climate Change 2007: Mitigation)

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Global Warming Potential (GWP)
20 years

100 years 500 years

Carbon
dioxide

CO2

1

1

1

Methane

CH4

62

23

7

Nitrous
oxide

N2O

275

296

156

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Solid waste - CH4 emissions for Indonesia

Percentage Share of Various Sectors to the total CH4 emissions -1994
(From: Indonesia: The First National Communication on Climate Change Convention)

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Leachate of landfill:
 Dissolved organic matter (alcohols, acids, aldehydes,
short chain sugars etc.)
 Inorganic macro components (common cations and
anions including sulfate, chloride, Iron, aluminium,
zinc and ammonia)
 Heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cu, Hg)
 Xenobiotic organic compounds such as halogenated
organics, (PCBs, dioxins etc.)

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

IPCC – background
 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
 Founded 1988 by WMO (World Meteorological
Organization) and UNEP (United Nations
Environment Programme)
 Objective source of information about climate change
for decision makers and other interested
http://www.ipcc.ch/

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

The IPCC is honored with the Nobel
Peace Prize
Oslo, 10 December 07 - The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr.
were awarded of the Nobel Peace Prize
"for their efforts to build up and
disseminate greater knowledge about
man-made climate change, and to lay
the foundations for the measures that
are needed to counteract such
change".

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

IPCC – organization

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

Chairman Rajendra
K. Pachauri

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

IPCC – organization
3 Working Groups and Task Force
 WG1 – “The Physical Science
Basis of Climate Change”
 WG2 – “Climate Change Impact,
Adaptation and Vulnerability”
 WG 3 – “Mitigation of Climate Change”
Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas
Inventories - “Develop and refine a
methodology for the calculation and
reporting of national GHG emissions
and removals”

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.2 – Waste-Environmental Threats

IPCC - Waste Model
• Relatively simple model as basis for the estimation of
CH4 emissions from SWDS
• Calculates emissions generated in current inventory
year from the waste deposited in previous years

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Waste – its destination

End-of-pipe Treatment, Waste
Prevention, Cleaner Production
and Industrial Ecology

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

We need effective waste management
•

To protect the environment

•

To ensure economic development

•

To reduce potential impacts on future generations

Was
te: It
s orig
in

Characterization of
waste

Innovation of
strategies

(2.1)
:

on
itnati
s
e
d
s
te: It
s
a
W

Awareness of
impacts

Involvement of
stakeholders

Revi
ew

Effective waste
management

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Contents
• The Destination of Waste
• Conventional waste management: end-of-pipe
treatment
• Modern waste management: prevention
Concept of Eco-efficiency
Concept of Cleaner Production
Concept of Industrial Ecology

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Waste residuals are discharged into the environment
Mass balance principle: all material extractions
from the environment will eventually be returned
to it, which implies:
• …there is no ‘away’ of materials
• …the natural environment functions as
resource base and waste sink: the final
destination of unwanted materials is also the
resource base of these materials

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

…and cause environmental threats (see also 2.2)
The pollution problem in ‘physical’ terms:
Amount of
Waste (level of
materials
throughput)

Material flows and
accumulations
Throughput
Throughput

Hazard
Hazard
potential
potential

Quantityaspect

Qualityaspect

Composition of
waste (hazard
potential of
materials)

• Assimilative capacity of environment to absorb waste is limited
• Waste materials impose threats to climates, ecosystems, material
resources, human health, economy

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

What are the options to deal with the problem of
waste?
1. The amount of waste need to be reduced
2. The hazard potential of waste need to be reduced
Important note: Solutions are shaped by our approach to
waste (Miller 2004):
Unavoidable
product of
economic
growth?

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

How do we manage waste?
Conventional Waste Management:
approach

strategy

costs

“Waste is a problem”
End-of-pipe treatment: burning, burying or transporting
of waste residuals
Expensive
• In 1992 the US spent US$ 100 billion, the EU US$ 30 billion
on ‘end-of-pipe’ treatment (Ecological Sustainable Industrial Development,
UNIDO, 1994)

• HOWEVER: There is very little direct financial return to the
industries that incur this expenditure

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Types of conventional waste management
Dumping into the environment (after limited
treatment…?)
incineration
landfilling
discharge to water

• Air (example: emissions from incineration)
• Soils (example: solid waste to landfills)
• Water (example: wastewater to oceans)
In effect: end-of-pipe transfers waste materials from
one part of the environment to another

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Problems of conventional waste management:
• Pollution of atmosphere (exhaust of toxic substances
and GHGs from incineration or landfills)
• Pollution of soils (leakage of heavy metals from
landfills)
• Pollution of water (deterioration of water quality, loss
of biodiversity)

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Is conventional waste management effective?
Environmental problem

Effectiveness

Depletion of resources:

Not effective

Dilution of resources:

Not effective

Pollution of resources:

Effective

Damage to resources:

Not effective

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Modern waste Management: prevention
approach

strategy

costs

“waste is a challenge”:
reduction, reuse, recycling, redesign

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Effective

•Is aimed at long term solution
•Eliminates waste problem
•Prevents hazardous waste residuals from entering the environment
•Reduces total material throughput

Efficient

Characteristics of modern, sustainable waste
management

•Reduces waste impact against lowest possible:
Energy use
Water use
Costs

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

What are technical options for sustainable waste
management?

• Prevent (design low-impact products and adapt
production processes)
• Reuse (extend user lifetime of products)
• Recycle (reuse materials from products)

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

What are technical options for sustainable waste
management?
Sustainable waste management suggests an ecoindustrial revolution or a low-waste economy (Miller 2003):
• Reuse and recycle nonrenewable
matter
• Use renewable accordance to
replinishment rate
• Use matter and energy efficiently
• Reduce unnecessary
consumption
• Prevent pollution

Rela
t
but s ed conce
lightl
p
y diff ts,
eren
scop
t
es

• Eco-efficiency
• Cleaner Production
• Industrial Ecology

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Eco-efficiency: characterization
•

Is about industrial or economic efficiency
The delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy
human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing
ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life cycle, to
a level at least in line with the earth's estimated carrying capacity.
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (1992)
Eco-efficiency

•

Scope: maximize economic productivity while reducing
environmental impact
Economy

Environment

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Eco-efficiency: product life-cycle characteristics

Functional performance over life-cycle
Eco-efficiency

=
Environmental impact over life-cycle

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Industrial efficiency, , usually expressed as:

($) (products generated)
 = --------------------------------------------------($) (raw materials used + waste generated)

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Conventional wisdom – to produce more products,
increase production

($) (products + more products generated)
 = ---------------------------------------------------($) (raw materials used + waste generated)
[‘eco’ = ‘economic’]

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Eco-efficiency wisdom – to produce more products,
reduce waste generated

($) (products generated)
 = ---------------------------------------------------------($) (raw materials used + reduced waste
generated)
[‘eco’ = ‘ecologic’]

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Cleaner Production: characterization
•

Is about pollution prevention (P2) and environmental (resource and
energy) efficiency
The practical application of knowledge, methods and means, so as
to provide the most rational use of natural resources and energy, and
to protect the environment
(First UN seminar organized by the ECE, 1976)
Eco-efficiency

•

Scope: minimize environmental impacts, while saving costs
Economy

Environment

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Cleaner Production: two important items
1. Good housekeeping: prevent pollution by different use of
techniques or behavioural change
2. Clean technology: apply new technology that uses
resources and energy more efficiently and at the same
time generate less pollution
The cleaner production concept is used at different levels:
• As a policy tool
• As a methodological tool
• As a managenent tool for industry
Baas 2005

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Cleaner Production: pollution prevention and
avoidance of unwise resource use
• better choice of resources:
• less in-process spillage:
• more reuse/recycling:
• more recovery:
• less ‘end-of-pipe’ waste:
• less observable pollution:
• better public image:

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Cleaner Production leads also to good business
Examples:
3M Corporation - USA
Printing firm - Norway
Química y Textiles Proquindus - Peru
Cerveceria Suramericana S.A. - Ecuador
Plastigama S.A. - Ecuador

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Cleaner Production at 3M Corporation - USA
• Pollution
Visibility: Prevention
smog

Pays (PPP) program Worldwide
1975 - 1990 (15 years)

• 126,000 tons of air pollutants
• 16,600 tons of sludge
• 6,600 m3 of wastewater
• 409,000 tons of solid/hazardous waste
• 210,000 barrels of oil annually
• US $ 506,000,000 in 15 years

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Cleaner Production at Printing Firm - Norway

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Industrial Ecology: closing material loops between
companies
•

Eco-Efficiency and Cleaner Production: prevention,
recycling, reuse of material flows within processes
and companies

•

Industrial Ecology: prevention, recycling and reuse of
material flows between companies

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Industrial Ecology: symbiosis between firms

Industrial Ecology in Kalundborg
(Denmark): achieving financial
and environmental sustainability
through network co-operation

2 – Waste, its origin, its destination

2.3 – Waste-its Destination

Industrial Ecology: example of waste reduction

Reduction in resource
consumption and emissions
in Kalundborg (Denmark).
Waste products are used as
resources