A Decision Support Tool For The Life Cycle Management of Municipal Solid Waste

1
A Decision Support Tool For The Life Cycle
Management of Municipal Solid Waste
InLCA-LCM 2002 Keith A. Weitz RTI, EHSD 3040
Cornwallis Road RTP, NC 27709 Ph
919-541-6973 kaw_at_rti.org
2
What is the MSW-DST?

• A computer-based tool developed to analyze cost
  and life-cycle environmental aspects of municipal
  solid waste management.
• Components of the MSW-DST include
• Process models (MS Excel)
• Mass flow model
• Optimization routine (Cplex)
• User interface (MS Visual Basic)

3
Types of Questions Answered Using the MSW-DST

• What are the cost and environmental benefits of a
  municipalitys recycling programs?
• Which strategy best minimizes GHG emissions for a
  given budget?
• What is the difference in cost and environmental
  tradeoffs using a landfill bioreactor (or other
  technology) versus what is currently used?
• What are the cost and environmental aspects of
  recycling versus composting corrugated
  containers?

4
Complex Solid Waste Decisions Being Evaluated

• How do we ensure
• Cost efficient waste management?
• Meeting state mandated recycling goals?
• Continued improvement of the environment?
• Fast, objective analysis of options?
• Best privatization bids?

• Environmental Aspects
• Local air quality impacts
• Energy consumption and offsets
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Benefits from materials recycling

• Economic/Social Aspects
• Municipal budgets
• Need for new facilities
• Household convenience

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MSW Decision Support Tool
Sound Science State of the Art Computing
Technology
Day-to-Day Waste Management Decisions
6
Main Model Interface
The quantity of waste flowing from one process to
another is shown in the yellow boxes
This screen displays the solution for a model
run. The arrows show the origin and destination
of waste.
7
Solution Summary
A summary of cost and life cycle environmental
results for a model run can be viewed by clicking
the Strategy Summary button on the previous
screen.
A graphical display of results is also provided.
8
Detailed Information
Detailed information is also made easily
available.
9
Communities Benefiting from the
MSW-DST

• Anderson County, South Carolina
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Great River Regional Waste Authority, Iowa
• Lucas County, Ohio
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Portland, Oregon
• Seattle, Washington

• Spokane, Washington
• State of California
• State of Georgia
• State of Washington
• State of Wisconsin
• Subbor ETV GHG Center
• U.S. Conference of Mayors U.S. GHG Study
• U.S. Navy Region Northwest

Many other studies are under consideration and
are being funded through participating
organizations.
10
Recent Examples of MSW-DST Applications

• National Greenhouse Gas Study
• St. Paul, Minnesota
• Sound Resource Management (Washington State)
• EPAs New Facility in RTP, NC

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National Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Solid
Waste Management

• Examine Effect on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
• in United States Resulting from Local Decisions
  to
• Manage Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

12
Study Participants

• U.S. Conference of Mayors
• Integrated Waste Services Association
• Research Triangle Institute
• U.S. EPA
• ICF Consulting
• Solid Waste Association of North America
• Environmental Industry Associations
• Waste Management, Inc.

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Principal Findings

• American cities have taken actions that have
  significantly reduced GHG emissions even though
  quantity of MSW has doubled.
• GHG Emissions levels from mid-1970s to current
  levels have been reduced from 36 to 8 MMTCE per
  year.
• If 1970s technologies were still in use, annual
  GHG emissions would be approximately 60 MMTCE.
• More than 52 MMTCE per year are being avoided
  through advances in MSW management.

14
Methodology

• Used Decision Support Tool and Life-Cycle
  Inventory Database to analyze GHG emissions from
• MSW management during the 1970s (earliest
  available data was for 1974).
• MSW management in the subsequent years of 1980,
  1990, and 1997 (most recent data available).
• National trends used to quantify
• Waste quantities and composition.
• GHG emissions from waste management practices.

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Technologies Employed
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Net GHG Emissions in the U.S.
6.00E07
5.00E07
1974 Technology path
4.00E07
52 million MTCE avoided
Metric Tons Carbon Equivalents (MTCE)
3.00E07
2.00E07
Actual Integrated Waste Management Technology
path
1.00E07
0.00E00
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
Year
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Recycling (including composting)
Year
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
0.00E00
-1.00E06
1974 Technology path
-2.00E06
-3.00E06
Metric Tons Carbon Equivalents (MTCE)
-4.00E06
3.2 million MTCE avoided
-5.00E06
Actual Integrated Waste Management Technology
path
-6.00E06
-7.00E06
-8.00E06
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Municipal Waste Combustion

Year

1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
0.00E00
1974 Technology path
-1.00E06
-2.00E06
5.5 million MTCE avoided
Metric Tons Carbon Equivalents (MTCE)
-3.00E06
Actual Integrated Waste Management Technology
path
-4.00E06
-5.00E06
GHG Emissions From MWC
-6.00E06
Note Negative emissions indicate savings in
emissions due to energy recovery
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Landfills
6.00E07
1974 Technology path
5.00E07
4.00E07
44 million MTCE avoided
Metric Tons Carbon Equivalents (MTCE)
3.00E07
2.00E07
Actual Integrated Waste Management Technology
path
1.00E07
0.00E00
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
Year
20
U.S. GHG Emissions Avoided (Year 2000)
Increasing Recycling Increasing MWCIncreasing
Landfill Gas Controls TOTAL AVOIDED
3.2 MMTCE 5.5 MMTCE 44 MMTCE 52 MMTCE
21
St. Paul, Minnesota

• Goals
• Develop an environmental profile of unrecovered
  paper and food waste composting.
• Compare composting to other options
  ( i.e., municipal waste combustion
  and landfilling).
• Mass Flow (tons/year)

Scenario
Waste Management Activity
Landfill
MWC
Compost
Collection (residential mixed waste)
21,353
21,353
21,353
WTE Combustion
21,300
Compost
21,300
Landfill
21,353
53
1,118
Ash Landfill
1,458
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Parameter
Units
Landfill
MWC
Compost
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Annual Dollar Cost
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
Landfill
MWC
Compost
24
Annual Energy Use (MBTU)
40,000
20,000
0
-20,000
-40,000
-60,000
-80,000
Landfill
MWC
Compost
25
Annual Tons Carbon Equivalents
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
-500
-1,000
-1,500
-2,000
-2,500
-3,000
Landfill
MWC
Compost
26
Department of Ecology, Washington State)

• Goals
• Develop an environmental profile of residential
  curbside recycling for four regions (two urban,
  two rural)
• Compare recycling to land disposal and MWC (when
  available in the regions).
• Washington State Urban Regions Mass Flow
  (tons/year)

Urban West
Urban East
Waste Management Activity
Recycling
Landfill
Recycling
MWC
Collection (residential mixed waste)
210,000
16,600
Collection (residential commingled recyclables)
210,000
16,600
Commingled MRF
210,000
16,600
WTE Combustion
16,600
Landfill
210,000
42
Ash Landfill
1,135
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Urban West
Urban East
Parameter
Units
Recycling
Landfill
Recycling
MWC
Cost
/year
44,341,963
50,026,036
10,954,152
12,430,411
Energy Consumption
MBTU/year
-2,749,080
288,149
-293,155
-131,938
Air Emissions
Total Particulate Matter
lbs Total PM/year
-17,862
15,810
-16,757
-19,908
Nitrogen Oxides
lbs NOx/year
-660,638
331,865
-67,239
21,238
Sulfur Oxides
lbs SOx/year
-1,924,036
43,661
-250,564
-131,208
Carbon Monoxide
lbs CO/year
-1,306,292
471,473
-198,390
10,800
Carbon Dioxide Biomass
lbs CO2 Bio/year
300,968,506
424,900,480
41,212,459
35,920,137
Carbon Dioxide Fossil
lbs CO2 Fossil/year
-194,652,322
9,597,341
-22,208,012
-15,838,770
Green House Equivalents
tons GHE/year
-27,921
11,954
-3,185
-2,204
Hydrocarbons (non CH4)
lbs HC/year
-500,690
47,601
-53,461
-12,704
Lead (Air)
lbs Pb (Air)/year
-53
0
-9
0
Ammonia (Air)
lbs NH4 (Air)/year
-2,680
5
-531
-79
Methane (CH4)
lbs CH4/year
-481,006
3,717,419
-54,528
-15,258
Hydrochloric Acid
lbs HCl/year
-13,065
5,598
-1,661
4,231
Total Solid Waste
lbs SWTotal/year
-31,989,139
776,033
-4,115,331
-3,329,292
Waterborne Pollutants
Dissolved Solids
lbs DS/year
-1,181,551
44,012
-140,828
-71,714
Suspended Solids
lbs SS/year
310,653
1,441
34,217
-12,383
BOD
lbs BOD/year
404,928
122,252
52,156
866
COD
lbs COD/year
658,847
340,765
36,136
1,812
Oil
lbs Oil/year
-16,357
40,844
-1,428
-562
Sulfuric Acid
lbs H2SO4/year
-1,313
13
-165
-156
Iron
lbs Fe/year
243
51
527
-848
Ammonia (Water)
lbs NH4 (Water)/year
-1,357
3,912
-203
-11
Copper
lbs Cu/year
0
0
0
0
Cadiumm
lbs Cd/year
-60
2
-7
-3
Arsenic
lbs As/year
0
0
0
0
Mercury (Water)
lbs Hg (Water)/year
0
0
0
0
Phosphate
lbs P/year
-473
32
-59
-76
Selenium
lbs Se/year
0
0
0
0
Chromium
lbs Cr/year
-61
2
-7
-3
Lead (Water)
lbs Pb (Water)/year
0
0
0
0
Zinc
lbs Zn/year
35
1
11
-1
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Urban West Region - Annual Cost
51,000,000
50,000,000
49,000,000
48,000,000
47,000,000
46,000,000
45,000,000
44,000,000
43,000,000
42,000,000
41,000,000
UW - Recycling
UW - Landfill
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Urban West Region Annual Energy Use (MBTU)
500,000
0
-500,000
-1,000,000
-1,500,000
-2,000,000
-2,500,000
-3,000,000
UW - Recycling
UW - Landfill
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Urban West Region Annual Pounds SOx Emissions
200,000
0
-200,000
-400,000
-600,000
-800,000
-1,000,000
-1,200,000
-1,400,000
-1,600,000
-1,800,000
-2,000,000
UW - Recycling
UW - Landfill
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Urban East Region - Annual Cost
12,500,000
12,000,000
11,500,000
11,000,000
10,500,000
10,000,000
UE - Recycling
UE - MWC
32
Urban East Region Annual Energy Use (MBTU)
0
-50,000
-100,000
-150,000
-200,000
-250,000
-300,000
UE - Recycling
UE - MWC
33
Urban East Region Annual Pounds SOx Emissions
0
-50,000
-100,000
-150,000
-200,000
-250,000
-300,000
UE - Recycling
UE - MWC
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EPAs New Facility in RTP, NC

• Goals
• Develop an environmental profile of yard and food
  waste composting for EPAs new facility in RTP,
  NC.
• Composting onsite at the EPA facility
• Composting offsite at a regional facility
• Compare composting to land disposal.
• Mass Flow (tons/year)

Scenario
Waste Management Activity
Landfill
Compost - Onsite
Compost - Offsite
Collection
175
175
175
Compost
175
100
Landfill
175
75
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Scenario
Parameter
Units
Landfill
Compost - Onsite
Compost - Offsite
Cost
/year
8,525
11,239
28,636
Energy Consumption
MBTU/year
81
57
209
Air Emissions
Total Particulate Matter
lbs Total PM/year
12
9
14
Nitrogen Oxides
lbs NOx/year
100
68
433
Sulfur Oxides
lbs SOx/year
18
39
64
Carbon Monoxide
lbs CO/year
447
39
98
Carbon Dioxide Biomass
lbs CO2 Bio/year
443,320
170,558
170,569
Carbon Dioxide Fossil
lbs CO2 Fossil/year
2,907
6,427
14,648
Green House Equivalents
tons GHE/year
11
1
3
Hydrocarbons (non CH4)
lbs HC/year
11
8
62
Lead (Air)
lbs Pb (Air)/year
0
0
0
Ammonia (Air)
lbs NH4 (Air)/year
0
2
2
Methane (CH4)
lbs CH4/year
3,875
210
214
Hydrochloric Acid
lbs HCl/year
6
1
1
Total Solid Waste
lbs SWTotal/year
699
945
1,075
Waterborne Pollutants
Dissolved Solids
lbs DS/year
9
28
61
Suspended Solids
lbs SS/year
1
13
14
BOD
lbs BOD/year
127
13
13
COD
lbs COD/year
355
80
81
Oil
lbs Oil/year
16
1
2
Sulfuric Acid
lbs H2SO4/year
0
0
0
Iron
lbs Fe/year
0
1
1
Ammonia (Water)
lbs NH4 (Water)/year
4
2
2
Copper
lbs Cu/year
0
0
0
Cadmium
lbs Cd/year
0
0
0
Arsenic
lbs As/year
0
0
0
Mercury (Water)
lbs Hg (Water)/year
0
0
0
Phosphate
lbs P/year
0
1
1
Selenium
lbs Se/year
0
0
0
Chromium
lbs Cr/year
0
0
0
Lead (Water)
lbs Pb (Water)/year
0
0
0
Zinc
lbs Zn/year
0
0
0
36
Annual Dollar Cost
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Landfill
Compost - Onsite
Compost - Offsite
37
Annual Energy Use (MBTU)
250
200
150
100
50
0
Landfill
Compost - Onsite
Compost - Offsite
38
Particulate Matter (lbs/yr)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Landfill
Compost - Onsite
Compost - Offsite
39
Carbon Equivalents (tons/yr)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Landfill
Compost - Onsite
Compost - Offsite
40
Public Release of Final Outputs

• MSW-DST is available!
• currently through RTI.
• Weighing options for developing a more easily
  accessible internet-based version.
• Expect to release LCI Database this summer (once
  cleared by EPA review).

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Next Steps

• Completing last stages of
• addressing peer review comments
• beta testing and QA/QC
• review/verification of defaults
• review of supporting documentation and Users
  Manuals
• Finalizing partnerships in the release of the
  MSW-DST and database
• Ensuring the final products are maintained over
  time
• Evaluating options for addressing comments such
  as
• Developing web based platform
• Ensuring maintenance of database and software
• Providing technical support and training

42
Please visit the project Internet site at
www.rti.org/units/ese/p2/lca.cfm
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Contacts Keith WeitzResearch Triangle
Institute kaw_at_rti.org or [phone] Susan
ThorneloeU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Thorneloe.Susan_at_epa.gov or [phone]