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Title: GHG emission factors developed for the recycling and composting of municipal waste in South African municipalities

Abstract

Highlights: • GHG emission factors for local recycling of municipal waste are presented. • GHG emission factors for two composting technologies for garden waste are included. • Local GHG emission factors were compared to international ones and discussed. • Uncertainties and limitations are presented and areas for new research highlighted. - Abstract: GHG (greenhouse gas) emission factors for waste management are increasingly used, but such factors are very scarce for developing countries. This paper shows how such factors have been developed for the recycling of glass, metals (Al and Fe), plastics and paper from municipal solid waste, as well as for the composting of garden refuse in South Africa. The emission factors developed for the different recyclables in the country show savings varying from −290 kg CO{sub 2} e (glass) to −19 111 kg CO{sub 2} e (metals – Al) per tonne of recyclable. They also show that there is variability, with energy intensive materials like metals having higher GHG savings in South Africa as compared to other countries. This underlines the interrelation of the waste management system of a country/region with other systems, in particular with energy generation, which in South Africa, is heavily reliant on coal. This studymore » also shows that composting of garden waste is a net GHG emitter, releasing 172 and 186 kg CO{sub 2} e per tonne of wet garden waste for aerated dome composting and turned windrow composting, respectively. The paper concludes that these emission factors are facilitating GHG emissions modelling for waste management in South Africa and enabling local municipalities to identify best practice in this regard.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22300328
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Waste Management
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 33; Journal Issue: 11; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0956-053X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; CARBON DIOXIDE; COAL; COMPOSTING; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; GLASS; GREENHOUSE GASES; MATERIALS RECOVERY; METALS; MUNICIPAL WASTES; RECYCLING; SOLID WASTES; SOUTH AFRICA

Citation Formats

Friedrich, Elena, and Trois, Cristina. GHG emission factors developed for the recycling and composting of municipal waste in South African municipalities. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1016/J.WASMAN.2013.05.010.
Friedrich, Elena, & Trois, Cristina. GHG emission factors developed for the recycling and composting of municipal waste in South African municipalities. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2013.05.010
Friedrich, Elena, and Trois, Cristina. 2013. "GHG emission factors developed for the recycling and composting of municipal waste in South African municipalities". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2013.05.010.
@article{osti_22300328,
title = {GHG emission factors developed for the recycling and composting of municipal waste in South African municipalities},
author = {Friedrich, Elena and Trois, Cristina},
abstractNote = {Highlights: • GHG emission factors for local recycling of municipal waste are presented. • GHG emission factors for two composting technologies for garden waste are included. • Local GHG emission factors were compared to international ones and discussed. • Uncertainties and limitations are presented and areas for new research highlighted. - Abstract: GHG (greenhouse gas) emission factors for waste management are increasingly used, but such factors are very scarce for developing countries. This paper shows how such factors have been developed for the recycling of glass, metals (Al and Fe), plastics and paper from municipal solid waste, as well as for the composting of garden refuse in South Africa. The emission factors developed for the different recyclables in the country show savings varying from −290 kg CO{sub 2} e (glass) to −19 111 kg CO{sub 2} e (metals – Al) per tonne of recyclable. They also show that there is variability, with energy intensive materials like metals having higher GHG savings in South Africa as compared to other countries. This underlines the interrelation of the waste management system of a country/region with other systems, in particular with energy generation, which in South Africa, is heavily reliant on coal. This study also shows that composting of garden waste is a net GHG emitter, releasing 172 and 186 kg CO{sub 2} e per tonne of wet garden waste for aerated dome composting and turned windrow composting, respectively. The paper concludes that these emission factors are facilitating GHG emissions modelling for waste management in South Africa and enabling local municipalities to identify best practice in this regard.},
doi = {10.1016/J.WASMAN.2013.05.010},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22300328}, journal = {Waste Management},
issn = {0956-053X},
number = 11,
volume = 33,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2013},
month = {Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2013}
}