Evaluating Landfill Diversion Strategies for Municipal Organic Waste (MOW) Management Using Environmental and Economic Factors

<p>We apply systems engineering principals and life cycle analysis (LCA) to municipal waste supply chains to elucidate sustainability incentives. Environmental impacts are quantified using LCA for waste management technologies available in the supply chain, and included as products. The supply chain is modeled as a coordinated market and resolved using mathematical optimization techniques. Incorporating impacts as products allows us to analyze the influence of tax policy on optimal waste management strategies.</p>

Evaluating Landfill Diversion Strategies for Municipal Organic Waste (MOW) Management Using Environmental and Economic Factors

<p>We apply systems engineering principals and life cycle analysis (LCA) to municipal waste supply chains to elucidate sustainability incentives. Environmental impacts are quantified using LCA for waste management technologies available in the supply chain, and included as products. The supply chain is modeled as a coordinated market and resolved using mathematical optimization techniques. Incorporating impacts as products allows us to analyze the influence of tax policy on optimal waste management strategies.</p>

Waste-to-energy: Coupling Waste Treatment to Highly Efficient CHP

Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) has become the most widespread Best Available Technology (BAT) to treat residual waste streams in a reliable and safe way. As such, MSWI has contributed to achieve the landfill diversion targets in many EU member states. Modern waste incinerators, also referred to as Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants, have furthermore evolved to producers of electricity, heat and steam for energy-consuming industries, agriculture and residences. However, due to the specific composition and properties of MSW and similar waste, and due to the historical development of MSWI, the exploitation of WtE plants as combined heat and power (CHP) plants is not straightforward. The aims of this paper are to develop a better understanding of these limitations, to point out possibilities for increasing the level of energy recovery and utilization in WtE plants, and to document this approach with data and experiences from selected WtE plants currently integrated in CHP schemes. Finally, some design and operational challenges for waste-fired CHP plants are further elaborated from a WtE plant supplier’s perspective.

Benchmarking eco-industrial park development: the case of Devens

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review and update Devens eco-industrial park sustainability indicators and benchmark progress made since 2000 in the seven key areas of its sustainability vision. Design/methodology/approach – The authors examined publicly available data for Devens, Massachusetts, and obtained additional data from Devens Enterprise Commission and a survey of 29 local organizations. Findings – Of the 43 indicators adopted by Devens eco-industrial park in 2012, 29 demonstrate progress, seven show lack of progress, six point to a potential progress, and for one no information was available in 2000 to evaluate progress. Most progress has been made in the areas of transportation, business and economic sustainability, governance and natural resources. Research limitations/implications – For some proposed indicators no data were available to evaluate progress (e.g. waste generation, recycling, compositing, and landfill diversion) yet these are among the key measures for an eco-industrial park. Practical implications – Proposed framework, indicators and lessons learned are of value for researchers and practitioners at other eco-industrial parks (EIPs) interested in benchmarking progress toward sustainable local development. Social implications – The case provides insights on integrating sustainability in local economic development. Originality/value – The study is paving the way toward development of a standardized set of sustainability indicators for EIPs in the USA.

Adopting rational waste management schemes: The case of Preveza municipality

The amount of both Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) that is landfilled and of the industrial waste illegally dumped is still in high levels in most regions of Greece. Despite a number of measures that have been adopted during the last years, no significant landfill diversion has been achieved. The present study aims at developing an integrated zero-waste management system in order to reduce the amount of MSW delivered for further treatment or landfilling, while utilizing the diverted waste. MSW and industrial symbiosis will be generated by interacting the MSW management and the operating industries while transferring resources from waste management in order to be used in the industry sector. This strategy includes a balanced set of multiple parallel initiatives and measures that will act as drivers of economic activity and sustainable development trough the achieved eco-efficiency. The development of this waste management plan includes the involvement and participation of the general public so as to obtain consensus and achieve a minimum level of common understanding. This study is focused on the municipality of Preveza in the Hellenic region of Epirus and the potential industrial and MSW symbiosis achieved in the area. Multiple scenarios regarding solid waste generation, local management and co-management options, as well as downstream fate regarding the households as well as the companies and enterprises operating in the area were developed for the next two decades. The results of the study have shown the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of the selected rational waste management especially these of the recycling scheme. The output for the municipality of Preveza for the next decades will be very positive in terms both of the waste management cost reduction and the elimination of the negative environmental impacts in the greater of the municipality area.