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Life Cycle Assessment Modelling of Solid Waste Systems


Technical University of Denmark


General course objectives:
Waste management is an important part of everyday life. The environmental impacts from waste management also carry a significant load if not carried out properly, and it is important to be able to quantify how big the impact from this sector is. Waste life cycle assessment is considered as one of the most effective tools for getting a better understanding of the environmental aspects originating from the waste management sector. The aim is to provide to the participant necessary skills and expertise to perform a Life Cycle Assessment of a waste management system. This will include an analysis of the technical system, its impact assessment and overall evaluation. The aim of this course is also to demonstrate the importance of sensitivity analysis and communication of results within the framework of the EASETECH model.

Learning objectives:
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge in the definition and assumptions of waste LCA
  • Describe advantages and disadvantages of using LCA models on waste management systems
  • Discuss the importance of assumptions and boundary conditions in LCA modeling of waste management systems
  • Explain the general principles in calculating environmental loads/savings as well as resource use/recovery
  • Explain the principles in LCA modeling of waste management technologies (collection, sorting, incineration, anaerobic digestion, composting, landfilling, recycling and energy utilization)
  • Apply the EASETECH model on waste management systems and waste technologies
  • Understand the importance of waste composition
  • Evaluate the importance of energy flows in waste management
  • Determine uncertainty, transparency and reporting
  • Analyze uncertainties and limitations in LCA of waste system modeling
  • Analyze individual waste technologies as well as integrated waste systems with the EASETECH LCA model software
  • Interpret and communicate LCA results

Contents:
The course is targeted to PhD students who aim to apply life cycle assessment to specific waste technologies or waste management systems for systematic evaluation of their environmental performances. The course includes an introduction to LCA modelling of waste technologies and energy systems as well as exercises involving building and assessing an integrated waste management system with the LCA-software EASETECH. Introductory lectures are provided in relation to: LCA principles, waste generation and composition, source-segregation, collection, material recovery/recycling, bio-treatments (composting, digestion), landfilling, thermal treatment, management of residuals (e.g. use-on-land, combustion), material/​substance/​energy flow analysis, life cycle inventory data, data uncertainties, and interpretation of results. Students apply the introduced concepts in a range of exercises leading to a full LCA scenario of an integrated waste management system. An understanding of the importance of sensitivity and uncertainty assessment will also be a part of the course. After the course, an extended abstract is submitted summarizing the LCA modelling of a selected system or technology.

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Course organizer
Anders
Place/Venue
Anker Engelunds Vej 1
City
2800 Kgs. Lyngby
Country
Denmark
Workload
5
Link
http://kurser.dtu.dk/course/12902