Elsevier

Energy

Volume 34, Issue 5, May 2009, Pages 613-622
Energy

Life Cycle Assessment of waste management systems in Italian industrial areas: Case study of 1st Macrolotto of Prato

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2008.12.004Get rights and content

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is not widely used as a decision-supporting tool in Italy, despite recent European Commission policies fostering its adoption to achieve an energy- and resource-efficient economy. In this paper, an LCA of waste management system of the 1st Macrolotto industrial area is presented. The aims of the study were to identify the environmental critical points of the system and to evaluate opportunities and problems in applying this methodology at industrial area level. After a description of the waste management system of the 1st Macrolotto industrial area, the main assumptions of the study and some elements of the system modelling are presented. Results confirmed that door-to-door separated collection and packaging recycling are successful strategies for reducing the use of natural resources. The cooperation of the waste management company, which was part of the area management structure, was strategic for the completion of the analysis. Country-specific databases and models should be developed for a widespread application of the LCA methodology to waste management in Italian industrial areas.

Introduction

One of the key objectives of the European Union environmental policies is to integrate environmental sustainability along with economic growth and welfare. A set of strategies has been proposed in recent years to move towards sustainable production and consumption and to achieve an energy- and resource-efficient economy. Within the framework of Integrated Product Policy [1], recommendations on waste management and sustainable use of natural resources [2], [3], ecodesign of energy-using products [4] and the use of essential tools as Green Public Procurement [5] and Ecolabels [6] have been given by the European Commission. All these strategies foster the use of Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology as a decision-supporting tool to evaluate different scenarios and highlight the environmental hot spots in the life cycle of a product or a system [7], [8], [9].

In particular, the European Commission Communication ‘‘Taking the sustainable use of resources forward: a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste’’ [2] suggests integrating the basic objectives of the European Union waste hierarchy (preventing waste and promoting reuse, recycling and recovery) by a new impact-based approach in which LCA is used for measuring environmental impacts and identifying priorities. This LCA-based approach allows us to take into account a number of geographic, economic, social and technological factors and to modify the waste hierarchy if required by a specific situation. Many studies have already shown the potential of LCA in analysing waste management scenarios. Some publications describe how to apply the method on waste management systems [10], [11]. Other studies focus on specific methodological aspects, highlighting LCA limitations [12], comparing different LCA models [13] or suggesting approaches to evaluate potential emissions of waste treatment facilities [14]. Several papers compare different waste management strategies or waste treatment options (see for instance [15], [16]). Some interesting publications try to include in the environmental analysis economic and social aspects [17], [18]. Very few papers address the specific problem of textile waste [19].

In Italy, however (and in some other European Countries), the use of LCA is not a diffused practice among Local Authorities, waste management companies and enterprises. Only a limited number of papers on waste management services have been published by universities or research bodies. They deal mainly with case studies conducted at different territorial scales: town [20], province [21] or region [22]. Some publications have the aim to evaluate the impact of specific treatment plants using LCA methodology either alone [23], [24] or complemented with integrated environmental monitoring systems [25]. Further studies compare waste treatment technologies [26], [27] or different management options for specific waste fluxes [28], [29].

Section snippets

Environmental management of Italian industrial areas

The national industrial context characterized by the preponderance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) did not facilitate the diffusion of LCA methodology. Researchers and stakeholder consultations identified the main barriers to environmental improvement of SMEs: lack of awareness and knowledge of environmental problems; lack of awareness of potential benefits of life cycle thinking; insufficient access to adequate environmental information, tools and training; relatively short-term

Description of the 1st Macrolotto industrial area and of its waste management system

The LCA case study was carried out in the 1st Macrolotto, one of the eight areas associated in the SIAM project. 1st Macrolotto is part of the industrial area of Prato (Tuscany), one of the best known and most important industrial districts in Italy. It has centuries of tradition in textile production, dating back to even before the European industrial revolution. The 1st Macrolotto area extends over 150 ha, comprises 600,000 m2 of factory buildings and hosts about 350 firms, 90% of which belong

LCA methodology

LCA is a systems analysis tool that studies the environmental aspects and potential impacts of a product or service system throughout its life cycle (raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, end of life and waste recycling). This is done by compiling an inventory of relevant inputs and outputs of a system (the inventory analysis), evaluating the potential impacts of those inputs and outputs (the impact assessment) and interpreting the results (the interpretation) in relation

System modelling

To build up a detailed model of the waste management system it was necessary to use primary, site-specific data. Quantity of waste, waste composition and final destinations of waste fluxes, as well as energy used in the selection plant and for mechanical recycling of polyethylene (PE) and wood, were based on measured data collected in 2005 by site visits and interviews with ASM technicians.

Nevertheless, several assumptions were necessary to model the system. The chemical composition of the

Results

The 1st Macrolotto waste management system was assessed with the environmental indicators and methods shown in Table 5.

Discussion and conclusions

An LCA study has been carried out in the industrial area of 1st Macrolotto, one of the eight areas associated in the SIAM project, with the overall aim of evaluating opportunities and problems in applying LCA at industrial area level. More specific aims were to identify the environmental critical points of the area waste management system and to suggest improvement options.

In general terms the study confirmed the complexity of conducting an LCA of the waste management system of an industrial

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the ASM team for providing necessary data for carrying out LCA study.

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