Environmental Damage of Different Waste Treatment Scenarios by Considering Avoided Emissions Based on System Dynamics ModelingShow others and affiliations
2023 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 15, no 23, article id 16158
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
This study aims to develop a comprehensive model for life cycle assessment and environmental damage cost calculations considering avoided emissions in different waste management scenarios using the system dynamics (SD) approach. Our analysis reveals that under the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario for the period 2020-2050, the total net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reach 12.5 Mt, with the highest environmental damage cost being USD 689 million. In contrast, an integrated management strategy encompassing recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, and incineration results in a 195% reduction in net GHG emissions compared to the BAU Scenario. Concurrently, the environmental damage cost drops to USD 277 million, incorporating USD 347 million in savings, leading to a net environmental damage cost of USD -71 million. The findings affirm that accounting for emissions avoided across various treatment methods offers a more accurate estimate of environmental damage costs. Additionally, policies centered on integrated waste management are more likely to achieve sustainability. The study also demonstrates the utility of the SD approach in providing a holistic view of waste management systems and in evaluating the effectiveness of various policy strategies for sustainable waste management.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI AG , 2023. Vol. 15, no 23, article id 16158
Keywords [en]
waste management scenarios, environmental saving, system dynamics approach, life cycle impact assessment method (LIME), environmental damage cost
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-341557DOI: 10.3390/su152316158ISI: 001115976900001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85199231145OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-341557DiVA, id: diva2:1822321
Note
QC 20231222
2023-12-222023-12-222024-08-13Bibliographically approved