Page 273 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND END OF LIFE 261

Foreign materials
I manufacturing

c
I Laridfill
Φ Compost
o Domestic materials
MRF manufacturing

o Combustion
Transportation Energy
Collection

Low High
Significance

Figure 11.5 Level of significance to LCA results and uncertainty for different data elements by
waste process and activity.

• Choice of functional unit (tonnage, energy unit)
• Exclusion of capital equipment/infrastructure (may be relevant
forLFandWTE)
• Exclusion of small quantities of material inputs
• Exclusion of spills and fugitive losses (LFs)
• Choice of open versus closed-loop recycling
• Treatment of and reporting carbon storage (will make LF look
better)
• Reporting format

In developing LCIs and LCAs for waste management during the past
15-plus years, we have found that it is very helpful to think ahead about how
the results will ultimately be used and to whom they will be presented. This
can help to guide decisions on for key assumptions and tailor the study and its
results to the defined purpose.

11.5 Overview of Existing Waste Related LCAs

RTI International (2010) performed a literature review of nearly 200 studies
selected from journals, academia and industry literature, and publications
from research councils and other organizations. Similar literature reviews have
been performed (e.g., Cleary, 2009; Barlaz and Dunn, 2009). For our review,
we focused on studies that fulfilled the following criteria: (1) use life cycle