Planning Biodegradable Waste Management in Stockholm
- 1 October 1999
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Industrial Ecology
- Vol. 3 (4), 43-58
- https://doi.org/10.1162/108819899569683
Abstract
The environmental impact of the management of biodegradable waste in Stockholm, based mainly on incineration and landfilling, was compared to systems with significant nutrient recycling; large-scale composting, anaerobic digestion, and separate collection and utilization of urine. The systems' emissions, residual products, energy turnover, and resource consumption were evaluated from a life-cycle perspective, using a computerized model, ORWARE (ORganic WAste REsearch model). Transportation was of relatively low importance to overall environmental impact, even at high rates of nutrient recycling. This is remarkable considering the geographical setting of Stockholm, with high population density and little nearby farmland. Ancillary systems, such as generation of electricity and district heating, were crucial for the overall outcome. Increased recycling of nutrients in solid biodegradable waste in Stockholm can reduce net environmental impact, whereas separation of human urine to be spread as fertilizer cannot yet be introduced without increased acidification. Increased nutrient recycling from solid biodegradable waste inevitably increases spreading of metals on arable land. Urine is by far the least contaminated residual product. Spreading of all other residuals would be limited by their metal content.Keywords
This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluating a municipal waste management plan using orwareJournal of Cleaner Production, 1999
- Uncertainty in life cycle impact assessment of toxic releases practical experiences - arguments for a reductionalistic approach?The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 1998
- European network on chain analysis for environmental decision supportThe International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 1998
- ORWARE – A simulation model for organic waste handling systems. Part 2: Case study and simulation resultsResources, Conservation and Recycling, 1997
- ORWARE – A simulation model for organic waste handling systems. Part 1: Model descriptionResources, Conservation and Recycling, 1997
- Hampered effluent accumulation process: Phosphorus management and societal structureEcological Economics, 1997
- Source separated urine-nutrient and heavy metal content, water saving and faecal contaminationWater Science & Technology, 1997
- The Life‐Cycle Analysis of Small‐Scale Sewage‐Treatment ProcessesWater and Environment Journal, 1995
- Integrated Solid Waste Management: A Lifecycle InventoryPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,1995
- Human Impacts on the Carbon and Nitrogen CyclesPublished by Cambridge University Press (CUP) ,1994