INCREASING MATERIAL AND ENERGY RECOVERY FROM WASTE FACILITIES: HUMAN HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEM IMPLICATIONS

This study presents a preliminary assessment of increased materials and energy recovery from waste on human health and ecosystem quality. Two scenarios were assessed encompassing different waste distribution and elements of an integrated waste management system (composting, anaerobic digestion coupled with bio-methane recovery, incineration, and landfilling). The base scenario processing about 100,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) per year and the modified scenario processing about 140,000 tonnes of MSW per year. The analysis was conducted following a life cycle approach using both midpoint and end point indicators. Based on a single tonne of waste processed, the results indicated a lower (~ 66%) human toxicity with cancer and non-cancer effects (CTUh) and impact on human health (DALY) (~64% lower) for the modified scenario. Decrease in landfilling and increase in the recovery of the organic fraction from separated collection (OFSC) for biological treatment in the form of composting and anaerobic digestion in the modified scenario where the main drivers of these results. Considering savings in emissions from substituting the production of mineral fertilizers, the values of the ecosystem quality (PDF*m2*year) indicated a lower impact (~86%) for the modified scenario.