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Recycling revisited—life cycle comparisons of global warming impact and total energy use of waste management strategies

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  • Björklund, Anna
  • Finnveden, Göran

Abstract

Recycling of waste materials has been analysed from a life cycle perspective in a number of studies over the past 10–15 years. Publications comparing the global warming impact and total energy use of recycling versus incineration and landfilling were reviewed in order to find out to what extent they agree or contradict each other, and whether there are generally applicable conclusions to be drawn when certain key factors are considered. Four key factors with a significant influence on the ranking between recycling, incineration, and landfilling were identified. Producing materials from recycled resources is often, but not always, less energy intensive and causes less global warming impact than from virgin resources. For non-renewable materials the savings are of such a magnitude, that apparently the only really crucial factor is what material is replaced. For paper products, however, the savings of recycling are much smaller. The ranking between recycling and incineration of paper is sensitive to for instance paper quality, energy source avoided by incineration, and energy source at the mill.

Suggested Citation

  • Björklund, Anna & Finnveden, Göran, 2005. "Recycling revisited—life cycle comparisons of global warming impact and total energy use of waste management strategies," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 309-317.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:44:y:2005:i:4:p:309-317
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2004.12.002
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hunt, Emily J. & Zhang, Chenlong & Anzalone, Nick & Pearce, Joshua M., 2015. "Polymer recycling codes for distributed manufacturing with 3-D printers," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 24-30.
    2. Zhao, Yan & Deng, Wenjing, 2014. "Environmental impacts of different food waste resource technologies and the effects of energy mix," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 214-221.
    3. Vossberg, Cherilyn & Mason-Jones, Kyle & Cohen, Brett, 2014. "An energetic life cycle assessment of C&D waste and container glass recycling in Cape Town, South Africa," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 39-49.
    4. Lazarevic, David & Aoustin, Emmanuelle & Buclet, Nicolas & Brandt, Nils, 2010. "Plastic waste management in the context of a European recycling society: Comparing results and uncertainties in a life cycle perspective," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 246-259.
    5. Arena, Umberto & Di Gregorio, Fabrizio, 2014. "A waste management planning based on substance flow analysis," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 54-66.
    6. Sahlin, Jenny & Ekvall, Tomas & Bisaillon, Mattias & Sundberg, Johan, 2007. "Introduction of a waste incineration tax: Effects on the Swedish waste flows," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 827-846.
    7. van Sluisveld, Mariësse A.E. & Worrell, Ernst, 2013. "The paradox of packaging optimization – a characterization of packaging source reduction in the Netherlands," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 133-142.
    8. Brattebø, Helge & Reenaas, Marte, 2012. "Comparing CO2 and NOX emissions from a district heating system with mass-burn waste incineration versus likely alternative solutions – City of Trondheim, 1986–2009," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 147-158.
    9. Turner, David A. & Williams, Ian D. & Kemp, Simon, 2015. "Greenhouse gas emission factors for recycling of source-segregated waste materials," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PA), pages 186-197.
    10. Williams, Thomas G.J.L. & Heidrich, Oliver & Sallis, Paul J., 2010. "A case study of the open-loop recycling of mixed plastic waste for use in a sports-field drainage system," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 118-128.
    11. Hottle, Troy A. & Bilec, Melissa M. & Landis, Amy E., 2017. "Biopolymer production and end of life comparisons using life cycle assessment," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 295-306.
    12. Meylan, Grégoire & Ami, Helen & Spoerri, Andy, 2014. "Transitions of municipal solid waste management. Part II: Hybrid life cycle assessment of Swiss glass-packaging disposal," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 16-27.
    13. Sathre, Roger & Gustavsson, Leif, 2006. "Energy and carbon balances of wood cascade chains," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 332-355.
    14. Merrild, Hanna & Damgaard, Anders & Christensen, Thomas H., 2008. "Life cycle assessment of waste paper management: The importance of technology data and system boundaries in assessing recycling and incineration," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(12), pages 1391-1398.

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