Waste

1
Waste its Origin
2.1 Characterization of Waste
Waste Threatens Sustainability, Characterization
of Waste
2
2.1 Characterization of Waste
Waste is an Environmental Problem
Limits to Waste Absorption

• Waste and the environment
• Waste contains hazardous materials that affect
  the environment
• Natural environment has a certain assimilative
  capacity pollution residual flow gt
  assimilative capacity

Environment resource base
Environment as waste sink
Waste Residuals (Pollution)
3
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
• Waste is lost economic value
• Waste causes nuisance, odour and is a threat to
  aesthetics
• Waste disposal entails considerable costs

Economic capital
Time
4
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 (1.5)
• Pollution problems depend on
• Environmental impact potential of materials
• Spatial scale of impact
• Damage potential (severity of hazards)
• Degree of exposure
• Remediation and reversibility time
• Quantity of materials used (throughput)

• Waste and the future
• Waste has potential long-term impacts
• Typical example nuclear waste
• Future generations bear the consequences of
  todays waste discharge
• Typical examples global GHG emissions and
  climate change, leachate from landfills

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2.1 Characterization of Waste
therefore, Waste Imposes a Threat to
Sustainability
Review (1.5)
People
Waste
interdependence
interdependence
Decisions
Profit
Planet
interdependence
6
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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2.1 Characterization of Waste
Awareness of impacts
Characterization of waste
Involvement of stakeholders
Effective waste management
Development of adequate strategies
8
2.1 Characterization of Waste
Characterization through Classification

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

Generator
Property
Aspect
Organic
Chemical
Anorganic
Households
Solid
Liquid
Physical
Gaseous
Ignitable
Industries
Corrosive
Hazard potential
Reactive
Toxic
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2.1 Characterization of Waste
Generator Types Waste Originates From a Variety
of Sources
inputs
residuals
Extraction
Waste is produced throughout the product lifecycle
Production
Use
Disposal
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2.1 Characterization of Waste
Properties Waste has Chemical and Physical
Properties
Chemical properties and examples

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

Lipids Carbohydrates Crude fibers Proteins
Biodegradable
Organic
Chemical
Anorganic

• Glass
• Metals
• Dirt (ashes)
• Some bulky wastes

Physical properties and examples
Solid
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Liquid
Industrial waste water (IWW)
Physical
Gaseous
Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG))
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2.1 Characterization of Waste
Properties Waste May Have a Certain Hazard
Potential
Ignitable
Cleaning solvents, paint thinners
Corrosive
Acidic wastes from metal plating
Hazard potential
Reactive
Explosives, electroplating solutions
Toxic
Paint waste, dental amalgam, batteries
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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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2.1 Characterization of Waste
Awareness of impacts
Characterization of waste
Involvement of stakeholders
Effective waste management
Development of adequate strategies
14
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
• 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)

impacts
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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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2.1 Characterization of Waste
Awareness of impacts
Characterization of waste
Involvement of stakeholders
Effective waste management
Development of adequate strategies
17
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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2.1 Characterization of Waste
Awareness of impacts
Characterization of waste
Involvement of stakeholders
Effective waste management
Development of adequate strategies
19
2.1 Characterization of Waste
Classification of Waste Encourages Development of
Adequate Strategies
Classification data
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
Organic
Chemical
Anorganic
Solid
Determines transport and processing requirements
prediction of combustion characteristics and
landfill lifetime (volume of waste compared to
landfill capacity)
Liquid
Physical
Gaseous
Ignitable
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
Corrosive
Hazard potential
Reactive
Toxic
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2.1 Characterization of Waste
Awareness of impacts
Characterization of waste
Involvement of stakeholders
Effective waste management
Development of adequate strategies
21
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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2.1 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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Solid Waste Environmental Threats
2.2 Waste-Environmental Threats

• Solid waste in relation to environmental threats
  - IPCC

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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.

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Solid waste - Landfill
2.2 Waste-Environmental Threats
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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

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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)

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Solid waste - Landfill
2.2 Waste-Environmental Threats
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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
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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)
31
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.)

32
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/

33
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".
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2.2 Waste-Environmental Threats
IPCC organization
35
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

36
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

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Waste its destination
2.3 Waste-its Destination

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

38
2.3 Waste-its Destination
We need effective waste management
Review (2.1)

• To protect the environment
• To ensure economic development
• To reduce potential impacts on future generations

Awareness of impacts
Waste Its origin
Waste Its desitnation
Characterization of waste
Involvement of stakeholders
Effective waste management
Innovation of strategies
39
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

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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

41
2.3 Waste-its Destination
and cause environmental threats (see also 2.2)
The pollution problem in physical terms
Composition of waste (hazard potential of
materials)
Amount of Waste (level of materials throughput)
Material flows and accumulations
Hazard potential
Throughput
Hazard potential
Throughput
Quality-aspect
Quantity-aspect

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

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2.3 Waste-its Destination
What are the options to deal with the problem of
waste?

• The amount of waste need to be reduced
• 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?
43
2.3 Waste-its Destination
How do we manage waste?

• Conventional Waste Management
• 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

approach
strategy
costs
44
2.3 Waste-its Destination
Types of conventional waste management

• Dumping into the environment (after limited
  treatment?)
• 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

incineration
landfilling
discharge to water
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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)

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2.3 Waste-its Destination
Is conventional waste management effective?
Environmental problem
Effectiveness

• Depletion of resources
• Dilution of resources
• Pollution of resources
• Damage to resources

• Not effective
• Not effective
• Effective
• Not effective

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2.3 Waste-its Destination
Modern waste Management prevention

• waste is a challenge
• reduction, reuse, recycling, redesign

approach
strategy
costs
48
2.3 Waste-its Destination
Characteristics of modern, sustainable waste
management

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

Effective

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

Efficient
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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)

50
2.3 Waste-its Destination
What are technical options for sustainable waste
management?
Sustainable waste management suggests an
eco-industrial revolution or a low-waste economy
(Miller 2003)
Related concepts, but slightly different scopes

• Reuse and recycle nonrenewable matter
• Use renewable accordance to replinishment rate
• Use matter and energy efficiently
• Reduce unnecessary consumption
• Prevent pollution

• Eco-efficiency
• Cleaner Production
• Industrial Ecology

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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
52
2.3 Waste-its Destination
Eco-efficiency product life-cycle characteristics
Functional performance over life-cycle

Eco-efficiency
Environmental impact over life-cycle
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2.3 Waste-its Destination
Industrial efficiency, ?, usually expressed as

• () (products generated)
• ? ----------------------------------------------
  -----
• () (raw materials used waste generated)

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2.3 Waste-its Destination
Conventional wisdom to produce more products,
increase production

• () (products more products generated)
• ? ----------------------------------------------
  ------
• () (raw materials used waste generated)
• eco economic

55
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

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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
57
2.3 Waste-its Destination
Cleaner Production two important items

• Good housekeeping prevent pollution by different
  use of techniques or behavioural change
• 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

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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

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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

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2.3 Waste-its Destination
Cleaner Production at 3M Corporation - USA

• Pollution Prevention 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

• Visibility smog

61
2.3 Waste-its Destination
Cleaner Production at Printing Firm - Norway
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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

63
2.3 Waste-its Destination
Industrial Ecology symbiosis between firms

Industrial Ecology in Kalundborg (Denmark)
achieving financial and environmental
sustainability through network co-operation
64
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