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

Mario Tarantini, Arianna Dominici Loprieno, Eleonora Cucchi and Ferdinando Frenquellucci

Energy, 2009, vol. 34, issue 5, 613-622

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.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment; Waste management; Industrial areas; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:34:y:2009:i:5:p:613-622

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2008.12.004

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