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Life Cycle Projects
Life Cycle Analysis/Municipal Solid Waste (LCA/MSW)
Methane emissions can be greatly influenced by the decisions made regarding use or disposal of components of MSW. A decision-support tool has been developed that incorporates LCA principles and includes the computer software and an extensive database to allow credible scenarios to be developed for various options that might be considered for management of MSW.
Life-Cycle Study to Evaluate Integrated Solid Waste Management
Strategies
APB capabilities include the use of life-cycle assessment tools. The Agency
is currently working to apply recent life-cycle assessment guidance to develop
methods and tools for evaluating integrated waste management. This multi-year
research was begun in the fall of 1994. The outputs include: (1) a database
of life-cycle inventory data on the various solid waste components (i.e.,
glass, metals, plastic, and paper) and the different waste management activities
(i.e., transportation, recycling/composting, landfilling, and combustion),
(2) a decision-support tool for applying life-cycle assessment tools on a
site-specific basis to evaluate different integrated waste management strategies,
and (3) application studies of many state and local governments applying the
decision-support tool. The stakeholders group for this research includes state
and local governments, trade associations, industry, academia, and environmental
interest groups. This research has developed data and information for a variety
of technologies and multimedia pollutant data.
Additional information is available at the following sites:
Life
Cycle Assessment - RTI International
International Journal
of LCA
Contact
For further information, contact Susan Thorneloe (thorneloe.susan@epa.gov, 919-541-2709)