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Using LCA to evaluate impacts and resources conservation potential of composting: A case study of the Asti District in Italy

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  • Blengini, Gian Andrea

Abstract

Separate collection of municipal solid waste has overcome the 50% threshold in the Asti District in northern Italy, nearly one-third being composed of household and green organic waste. In order to address present and future solutions, it becomes therefore fundamental to assess the environmental performances of the current management of organic waste from separate collection. A from-gate-to-cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) model has been developed by expanding system boundaries, in order to carry out the assessment in the context of the whole waste management streamline. The environmental performances of an existing aerobic plant were made available, based on field measured data, by paying attention to the role and contribution of waste management subsystems. The need for actual and reliable data on materials and energy input, as well as gross and net gains from materials recovery, including benefits arising from use of compost in farming activities, was probably the major drawback that had to be faced. The study integrated the findings of different investigations from the literature with field measured data in order to obtain a more comprehensive framework representative of the area under study. The results may help public administrators to better understand the suitability of using LCA tools when dealing with solid waste management strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Blengini, Gian Andrea, 2008. "Using LCA to evaluate impacts and resources conservation potential of composting: A case study of the Asti District in Italy," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 52(12), pages 1373-1381.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:52:y:2008:i:12:p:1373-1381
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.08.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Marconsin, Adauto Fernandes & Rosa, Derval dos Santos, 2013. "A comparison of two models for dealing with urban solid waste: Management by contract and management by public–private partnership," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 115-123.
    2. Luciano Rodrigues Viana & Pierre-Luc Dessureault & Charles Marty & Jean-François Boucher & Maxime C. Paré, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment of Oat Flake Production with Two End-of-Life Options for Agro-Industrial Residue Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Laís Fabiana Serafini & Manuel Feliciano & Manuel Angelo Rodrigues & Artur Gonçalves, 2023. "Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Use of LCA to Assess the Environmental Impacts of the Composting Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-33, January.
    4. Blengini, G.A. & Brizio, E. & Cibrario, M. & Genon, G., 2011. "LCA of bioenergy chains in Piedmont (Italy): A case study to support public decision makers towards sustainability," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 36-47.
    5. Giovanni Biancini & Barbara Marchetti & Luca Cioccolanti & Matteo Moglie, 2022. "Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment Analysis of an Italian Composting Facility concerning Environmental Footprint Minimization and Renewable Energy Integration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    6. Colón, Joan & Martínez-Blanco, Julia & Gabarrell, Xavier & Artola, Adriana & Sánchez, Antoni & Rieradevall, Joan & Font, Xavier, 2010. "Environmental assessment of home composting," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(11), pages 893-904.
    7. Francesco Di Maria & Amani Maalouf, 2023. "Application of Entropy-Based Ecologic Indicators for Intrinsic Sustainability Assessment of EU27 Member States Waste Management Systems at Technosphere Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, January.
    8. Quirós, Roberto & Villalba, Gara & Muñoz, Pere & Colón, Joan & Font, Xavier & Gabarrell, Xavier, 2014. "Environmental assessment of two home composts with high and low gaseous emissions of the composting process," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 9-20.
    9. Maria Antoniadou & Theodoros Varzakas & Ioannis Tzoutzas, 2021. "Circular Economy in Conjunction with Treatment Methodologies in the Biomedical and Dental Waste Sectors," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    10. Fragkou, Maria Christina & Vicent, Teresa & Gabarrell, Xavier, 2010. "A general methodology for calculating the MSW management self-sufficiency indicator: Application to the wider Barcelona area," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 390-399.
    11. Martínez-Blanco, Julia & Muñoz, Pere & Antón, Assumpció & Rieradevall, Joan, 2009. "Life cycle assessment of the use of compost from municipal organic waste for fertilization of tomato crops," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 53(6), pages 340-351.
    12. Butler, John & Hooper, Paul, 2010. "Down to Earth: An illustration of life cycle inventory good practice with reference to the production of soil conditioning compost," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 135-147.
    13. De Silva, Lihini & Taylor, Rebecca, 2021. "If you build it, they will compost: The effects of municipal composting services on household waste generation," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313874, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    14. Dong, Xin & He, Bao-Jie, 2023. "A standardized assessment framework for green roof decarbonization: A review of embodied carbon, carbon sequestration, bioenergy supply, and operational carbon scenarios," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).

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