EPA/600/A-86/051
U.S. RESEARCH TO CONDUCT LIFE-CYCLE STUDY TO EVALUATE
ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FOR INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT
Susan A. Thomeloe
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
Simon Friedrich
U. S. Department of Energy
Office Of Industrial Technologies
Washington, D.C. 20585
Morton A. Barlaz and Ranji Ranjithaa
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7908
Keith A. Weitz, Emery J. Kong, and Subba Nishtala
Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Carlton Wiles and Philip B. Shepherd
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Golden, Colorado 80401
Robert K. Ham
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
ABSTRACT
Conflicting or incomplete information exists regarding the benefits and effects of the
management of source reduction, recycling, composting, landfilling, and combustion of
municipal solid waste (MSW). Management professionals are often forced to mate decisions
about waste management strategies without being able to look at the strategies in the context of
the entire MSW system and factor in site-specific information regarding available markets,
transportation, and environmental and energy impacts. Concern has been raised that strategies
are being adopted that may not be environmentally or economically preferable when site-specific
and regional considerations are included in the evaluation. Additionally, the implications of
various waste management options on the potential releases to the environment at life-cycle
stages have not been addressed. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
the Department of Energy (DOE) are co-sponsoring a cooperative agreement with the Research
Triangle Institute to use life^cyele assessment (LCA) principles to evaluate me upstream and
downstream environmental impacts to evaluate alternative MSW management options. This
research will provide the MSW decision-maker with more complete information on the
environmental and economic impacts of MSW management alternatives.
Data will be collected to develop a life-cycle inventory (LCI) for environmental and cost
impacts associated with raw materials acquisition, manufacturing, use, and waste management.
The LCI includes conducting material and energy balance calculations for multi-pollutants and
media for the evaluation of different MSW management options. A working group of EPA and
5/9/95 9:31AM 1
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DOE experts has been formed to provide project direction and to help resolve technical issues
associated with conducting the LCA. In addition, an external advisory group has been formed
and includes representatives from both the public and private sectors including state and local
governments, solid waste management firms, academia, trade associations, industry,
environmental advocacy groups, and research institutes. A major goal of this research will be
the development of a LCI. To accomplish this goal, the following research activities have been
initiated: the (1) collection, review, and summary of data building on recent DOE and EPA
research; (2) identification of major data gaps; (3) collection of field data; and (4)
implementation of the LCA methodology. To facilitate the use of the data to apply to site-
specific analyses, a decision support tool for use by solid waste management decision makers is
to be developed. To help illustrate the objectives for this research, a LCI for three components
of the MSW stream [i.e., old corrugated containers (OCC), old newsprint (ONP), and aluminum
cans] is scheduled for completion by September 1995. This paper provides an overview of this
research and the schedule for outputs, and discusses the potential applications.
Introduction
Efficient solid waste management plans are needed by virtually every community in the
U.S. Communities are struggling to develop better strategies for integrated waste management
to meet federal, state, and local goals regarding MSW management. Recent regulations for
landfilling and combustion of waste have resulted in increased protection of human health and
the environment. However, waste management costs have increased, and there is increased
interest in more efficient management of waste. Integrated waste management may include
source reduction, recycling, combustion, composting, and landfilling. Adoption of one
approach or a combination of approaches may have impacts beyond the local community where
these choices are being implemented. This research is to help provide data and a methodology
for applying life-cycle principles for evaluating integrated waste management strategies. In
addition, a decision support tool is to be developed that will enable the user to apply the data and
information to specific strategies and variations that are often region specific. In addition to the
research that is described by this paper, other countries are recognizing the need to evaluate
waste management in a more holistic approach and are conducting life-cycle studies of waste
management. These countries include the Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden
and the United Kingdom.
The EPA's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division (the former Air and Energy
Engineering Research Laboratory), with DOE cofunding, has entered into a 3-year cooperative
agreement with the Research Triangle Institute (RTI). The EPA and DOE are collaborating with
RTI to develop the technical information and the LCI, and applying LCA principles to compare
MSW management options. RTI has several members on their research team including MSW
experts at Franklin Associates, Ltd., Midwest Research Institute, North Carolina State
University (NCSU), and University of Wisconsin (UW). In addition, representatives from
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are active participants in the internal
advisory group. Other participants in the internal advisory group include representatives from
EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Health and Environmental
Assessment, Office of Healfli Research, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Office of
Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Office of Research and Development, Office of
Science, Planning and Regulatory Evaluation, and Office of Solid Waste. The external advisory
group, to whom we refer as the stakeholders, includes representatives from both the public and
private sectors including state and local governments, solid waste management firms, academia,
trade associations, industry, environmental advocacy groups, and research institutes. RTI
completed the research plan which has been approved and emphasizes year 1 activities. The
emphasis of the first 2 years will be on data collection, review, and the development of the LCI.
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Research Objectives
/
Given the numerous components of MSW, the number of potential combinations of
management alternatives, and the interrelationships among them, development of an effective
MSW management plan for a given unit of government is complex. The objective of this
research is to use life-cycle concepts and techniques to evaluate alternatives for MSW
management. The major output from this research will be a LCI database which includes data on
emissions, resource and energy consumption, representative costs of all unit operations involved
in MSW management, and data on "upstream" life-cycle stages including raw materials
acquisition, manufacturing (or remanufacturing), and consumer use/reuse/maintenance (Vigon et
al., 1993 describes these stages). This database of LCI information can be used by other models
or in other studies.
The other major output from this research is the application of LCA principles for
evaluating different integrated waste management strategies and the development of a MSW
management decision support tool that will help users (i.e., municipal managers and other
decision-makers) identify options that minimize resource and energy consumption, adverse
environmental effects, and costs. This is the mathematical representation of the different unit
operations (i.e., landfill, waste-to-energy facility, compost facility, recycling facility) and
includes material and energy balance calculations. The final decision support tool will allow
users to apply the data on a site-specific basis to compare MSW management strategies
regarding energy and resource consumption, environmental releases, and costs.
Figure 1 identifies the major research components and schedule for completion. To help
illustrate the objectives for this research, a LCI for three components of the MSW stream [i.e.,
old corrugated containers (OCC), old newsprint (ONP), and aluminum cans] is scheduled for
completion by September 1995. EPA will solicit feedback from the internal and external
advisory groups on the technical approach and data sources. Comments that RTI receives from
the EPA Project Officer will be used to refine the methodology for application to all MSW
components.
Defining the MSW System and Analysis Approach
The system boundaries of the solid waste management system have been specified in
terms of:
• waste composition and generation rates,
* unit operations involved in solid waste management (collection, separation,
composting, combustion, refuse derived fuel (RDF), and landfill),
• remanufacturing of products from recycled waste components, and
• interrelationships between these unit operations.
Figure 2 illustrates the major unit operations of the system. The system definition is being
developed with the objective of being as flexible as possible. More detailed flow diagrams have
been developed as part of a system definition document
RTI has proposed that the components of MSW to be included in the LCI be consistent
with EPA's characterization of MSW (Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States, EPA, 1994a). This definition includes waste generated in the residential, commercial,
institutional, and industrial sectors but excludes industrial process waste, sludge, construction
and demolition waste, pathological waste, agricultural waste, mining waste, and hazardous
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waste. Ash generated from the combustion of MSW will be included in the system. The MSW
to be included in this system is divided into three categories: residential waste, waste generated
in multifamily dwellings, and commercial waste. In analyzing a specific solid waste
management system, it will be possible to consider a different composition for each type of
waste. Lists of the components included within each category have been developed and
documented in the system description that was developed for this research. The system will also
allow for the recovery of combinations of components such as the recovery of mixed paper for
use as either pulp or fuel.
Task Name
Kick-off Mtg
LCI -Data
fVhl fart inn &
Review
LCI - System
Lietn
LCI-
Mathematical
Represen-
tation
Interim Results
forOCC,ONP,
and aluminum
cans
LCI- ID Data
Gaps
Decision
Support Tool
Development
Coordination -
Internal &
External
Final LCI &
LCA Results
1994
<^
0
A
^— -•=''""
X> ...... ii..
<
1995
>
...'"...." ..:»5^
y\
'" " *?
1996
1997
1998
in j^
Figure 1. Timeline for LCA/MSW Research
The major unit operations to be included as part of the MSW management system include:
collection and transfer,
separation (in material recovery facilities and drop-off centers),
treatment (composting, combustion, and RDF),
burial or land disposal, and
remanufacturing (to the extent that a specific component of the waste stream is
recycled). ,
Data on the cost, energy and resource consumption, and environmental releases corresponding to
individual processes within each unit operation will be collected as part of this research. A list of
LCI parameters has been developed and documented in a system description document that was
developed for this research.
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Several refuse collection options are defined for each waste generation sector. In the
residential sector, options include the collection of mixed refuse, the collection of recyclables as
Raw Materials Acquisition — —
Loop .
i
Manufacturing
I
Use/Reuse/Maintenanee
(waste generation)
Process
Generated MSW
i
Waste Management
Notes: —Transportation is embedded within each of the life-cycle stages.
—Source reduction is embedded within each of the life-cycle stages and affects the flow of materials within
and between stages.
—Combustion Includes incineration and waste-to-energy.
Figure 2. Life Cycle for Integrated Waste Management
either commingled recyclables or recyclables sorted by the collection crew or waste generator,
and co-collection of refuse and recyclables in the same vehicle. Collection alternatives for refuse
generated in multifamily dwellings include the collection of mixed refuse and collection of either
commingled or presorted recyclables. Collection options for the commercial sector include
collection of both mixed refuse and presorted recyclables. Drop-off of recyclables at centralized
facilities is also considered.
Transfer stations serve as a central facility at which the waste is collected before shipping
to a separation, treatment, or disposal facility. Several types of transfer stations will be included
5/9/95 9:31 AM
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in the system to receive waste from any of the predefined refuse and recyclable collection
alternatives. In addition, the potential to consolidate refuse for rail transport is included.
In MSW management strategies where materials are recycled, recyclables will require
processing in a materials recovery facility (MRF). The design of a MKF is dependent upon the
manner is which refuse is collected and subsequently delivered to the MRF. Thus, the collection
and recycling of MSW are interrelated and this interrelationship is captured in the system. Five
MRFs, each capable of recovering a set of recyclables from the applicable collection alternative,
are to be considered in this system.
The recyclable material recovered from a MRF will ultimately be delivered to a
remanufacturing process. The energy and resource consumption, and environmental releases
corresponding to manufacturing of a product from recyclable material (remanufacturing) will be
considered in the system. To compare a remanufacturing process with manufacturing the same
product from virgin material, the energy and resource consumption, and releases which apply to
a virgin manufacturing process will also be considered.
Waste treatment options targeted for consideration include: combustion with energy
recovery and conversion to electricity, composting of either mixed waste or yard waste, and
anaerobic digestion. The combustion process will be assumed to have air pollution control
devices which meet current regulations. In addition, two types of RDF facilities will be
considered." one will separate the refuse stream to recover a relatively high heat value fraction
for use as a fuel, and the other is co-combustion, in which particular components of MSW are
recovered for combustion in industrial boilers such as utility boilers and hog fuel boilers in the
paper industry.
Two types of landfills will be considered in the system: one for the receipt of mixed
refuse and the other for the receipt of combustion ash. All facilities will be designed in
accordance with applicable state and federal regulations with respect to requirements such as
liner design, leachate, and gas collection and control. Variations of these requirements, such as
the type of liner design, are to be included in the evaluation.
Source reduction is also to be considered in the system and will be analyzed in a more
qualitative manner. Source reduction represents a reduction in mass or toxicity of the waste
stream. The effects of source reduction are unique to very specific components of the waste
stream. A framework for analysis of source reduction is included in the system. Various
municipalities have recently implemented source reduction programs and have monitored their
impact on MSW composition and management (see Waste Prevention, Recycling, and
Composting Options' Lessons from 30 Communities, EPA, 1994b). The EPA Project Officer
and the research team will consult with the internal and external advisory groups to gather
existing source reduction studies that evaluate the impact of various source reduction activities
on MSW management to the extent that readily available information is determined to be
reliable.
Developing a Life-Cycle Inventory
EPA's recently published Life-Cycle Assessment: Inventory Guidelines and Principles
(Vigon et al., 1993) defines a life cycle to include the stages of raw materials acquisition,
manufacturing, use/reuse/maintenance, and waste management. Evaluating MSW management
from a life-cycle perspective can provide decision-makers with a more complete picture of MSW
management and can facilitate some management decisions (e.g., low-cost waste diversion
programs for major components of the waste stream). Making more efficient decisions regarding
integrated waste management requires a more detailed level of analysis; for example, comparing
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energy consumption, costs (capital, operational, long term care), and environmental releases of
using recovered and virgin materials when making decisions on the scope of the recycling
programs.
/
The major effort with developing an LCI is collecting data for conducting material and
energy balance calculations. Data collection will be the major focus of the first 2 years with the
focus of developing a LCI. Data in the LCI will be used in material and energy balance
calculations to develop emission factors for each unit operation involved in solid waste
management. In Year 1, available data will be collected, cataloged, and assessed to verify their
use to the project. Several recently completed studies are being reviewed for available data and
information including:
* The Role of Recycling in Integrated Solid Waste Management to the Year 2000
(Keep America Beautiful, 1994),
• Energy Implications of Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems (NYSERDA,
1994),
» Mandated Recycling Rates: Impacts of Energy Consumption and MSW Volume (ANL,
1993),
* Council of State Governments/Tellus Packaging Study (Tellus, 1992), and
• Data Summary of Municipal Solid Waste Management Alternatives (SKL, 1992).
Several other studies are nearing completion including research by Argonne National
Laboratory, California Integrated Waste Management Board, DOE, EPA, Franklin Associates,
Ltd., the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, NREL, Solid Waste
Association of North America, and Tellus Institute. In addition to publicly available data, the
data that may be available in the private sector are also being identified. Several data gaps have
been identified, and a plan will be developed to fill these gaps. Collection of field data is to begin
late in year 1 and continue throughout year 2. RTI will develop a list of data gaps and prioritize
them based on the sensitivity analysis.
In addition to publicly available data, private sector data are to be collected, particularly
where industries have conducted studies on enviromental releases and have documentation of
major assumptions and material and energy balance calculations. The EPA Project Officer is
contacting industry representatives to identify potential data sources for providing to the research
team for evaluation. Companies and individuals who have data to contribute are urged to contact
the Project Officer at the address provided at the end of this article to discuss arrangements for
providing information. Data are required on energy consumption as well as gaseous, liquid, and
solid emissions associated with all aspects of MSW collection, recycling, conversion to energy,
composting, remanufacturing to new materials, and disposal. In addition, data are needed on the
inputs to each of the unit operations involved in solid waste management. This could include the
consumption of water or other raw materials. Finally, data on the economics of each unit
operation are also being solicited.
The data identification and collection effort is expected to produce a large variety of
information (e.g., urban and rural, aggregate, and individual facility). As the available data are
collected by the EPA Project Officer and provided to RTI, the research team will review them
for their usefulness in developing emission factors and input for developing the LCI. Obtaining
accurate and relevant data is important not only with regard to residuals emitted during MSW
management, but also with regard to the material, both amount and composition, that flows
through the various stages of the MSW management system. By the same token, price and cost
data for all the unit operations usually vary tremendously with scale and often significantly with
MSW composition. RTI will strive to collect accurate and relevant environmental and economic
data for characterizing the different waste management activities.
5/9/959:31 AM
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All data obtained for this project will be reviewed and evaluated by RTI to determine
their applicability to the research and their quality. This review may include consultation with
the internal and external advisory groups and the assignment of other reviewers outside the
project team. As part of the data review process, RTI will assess the quality of major data
sources using EPA's Guidelines for Assessing the Quality of Life-Cycle Inventory Data (EPA,
1994c). These guidelines provide a qualitative framework for RTI's assessing and reporting data
quality based on the consistent application of data quality guidelines, data quality indicators, and
data quality worksheets,
Applying Life-Cycle Principles and Developing a Decision Support Tool
The application of life-cycle principles is an evolving tool, and the EPA Project Officer is
seeking input from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), a leading
organization in the development of LCA methodology and applications, on the research team's
proposed approach. In addition, all interim output will be reviewed by both the internal and
external advisory groups. Input will also be obtained from the external advisory group on how to
tailor the outputs so that they will be of maximum benefit to waste management decision-makers
in both rural and urban areas. It is clear from the feedback received to date from state and local
government officials, that to develop data without a tool for applying it to specific situations will
not be useful. Therefore, plans include RTFs developing a decision support tool that will meet
the needs of potential users. However, the database that is being developed for the LCI will be
able to be used as input to any other available model or life-cycle study.
The ultimate product of the research will be the database of the LCI and a user-friendly
decision support tool designed to assist state and local solid waste management personnel to
evaluate the economics, energy and resource consumption, and environmental releases
associated with alternate integrated solid waste management strategies. Together, the decision
support tool (or expert system) and LCI database will allow the user to analyze a particular soHd
waste management system and evaluate more efficient potential alternatives. However, the LCI
database is being constructed so that it will be easily importable to other models or studies.
Review by the Internal and External Advisory Groups
The internal advisory group includes representatives from EPA's Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Health
Research, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances, Office of Research and Development, Office of Science, Planning and Regulatory
Evaluation, and Office of Solid Waste. As stated earlier, DOE is also an active participant in this
research, and representatives from DOE and DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory are
active participants in the internal advisory group. The EPA Project Officer has requested review
comments on research outputs from the internal advisory group and external advisory group (i.e.,
stakeholders). Typically RTI revises outputs after receiving comments through the EPA Project
Officer from the internal advisory group before the outputs are reviewed by the stakeholders.
Internal advisory group meetings are held monthly via teleconference, and more often if needed.
The purpose of these meetings has been to provide input to the development of the research
plan, development of research outputs, and discussions regarding technical issues and concerns.
The role of stakeholders is to review the research plan, system definition, and completed
and on-going research; exchange ideas for future research approaches; and provide assistance in
obtaining data. The National Association of Counties and the Conference of Mayors are active
participants in this group in addition to industry, trade associations, and environmental advocacy
groups. The stakeholders also provide input on how we can tailor outputs to best meet their
needs. Two workshops a year (one every 6 months) are planned to provide a forum for direct
5/9/95 9:31AM 8
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input by the stakeholders. The internal advisory group is also invited to participate in these
workshops.
The first workshop was held on April 11,1995, in the Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina, The purpose of this workshop was to provide an overview of the research goals,
approach, schedule, and proposed system definition. In addition an overview of data collection
efforts to date was provided. This workshop provided an opportunity to solicit input from the
participants, discuss application of life-cycle concepts to MSW management, and identify
sources of available data. In addition, feedback was obtained on how to structure the decision
support tool so that it best meets the needs of potential users. A number of issues were identified
including how to compare data for unit operations (such as MRFs, landfills, combustion
facilities, compost facilities) where very different levels of reliable data are available, which may
vary both spatially and temporally. Also there was concern about the level of information
provided in the LCI and presented through the decision support tool (i.e., how will
environmental data be presented?). In addition, concern was raised that the decision support tool
needs to provide assistance to both urban and rural areas. Often issues from rural areas are not
considered and are different from those from urban areas. There was also the concern by the
external advisory group due to the limited resources available for field test measurements and
field data collection in year 2. However, there appeared a strong consensus that this research is
needed and will provide valuable input to waste management decision-makers and to other
studies.
To Receive and/or Contribute Information
Quarterly project update newsletters will be prepared and distributed to an MSW project
mailing list. To be placed on this mailing list, or if your organization would like to contribute
data or potential models, please contact Susan Thorneloe, EPA Project Officer, Office of
Research and Development, Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, MD-63, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711, Phone: (919) 541-2709, Fax: (919) 541-2382.
REFERENCES
Argonne National Laboratory. 1993. Mandated Recycling Rates: Impacts on Energy
Consumption and Municipal Solid Waste Volume. Work conducted for DOE's Office of
Policy. ANL/ESD-25. December.
Keep America Beautiful 1994. The Role of Recycling in Integrated Solid Waste Management
" to the Year 2000. Prepared by Franklin Associates, Ltd.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. 1994. Energy Implications of
Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems. Prepared by Tellus Institute.
SRI International. 1992. Data Summary of Municipal Solid Waste Management Alternatives.
Prepared for DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Tellus Institute. 1992. CSG/Tellus Packaging Study. Prepared for The Council of State
Governments, the U.S. EPA, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection and Energy, May.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1994a. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in
the Untied States:!994 Update. EPA-530/R-94/042 (NTIS PB95-147690). Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, DC, November,
5/9/95 9:31AM 9
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1994b, Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Composting
Options: Lessons from 30 Communities. EPA/530/R-92/015. Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response, Washington, DC, February. '
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1994c. Guidelines for Assessing the Quality of Life-
Cycle Inventory Data. Final report. Office of Solid Waste, Washington, DC. Prepared
by Research Triangle Institute.
Vigon, B.W, et al. 1993. Life-Cycle Assessment: Inventory Guidelines and Principles.
EPA/600/R-92/245 (NTIS PB93-139681). Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory,,
Cincinnati, OH. Prepared by Battelle-Columbus Laboratories and Franklin Associates,
Ltd., January.
5/9/95 9:31AM 10
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AEERL-P-1291
TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO.
EPA/600/A-96/051
3. RECIf
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
5, REPORT DATE
U.S. Research to Conduct Life-cycle Study to Evaluate
Alternative Strategies for Integrated Waste Manage-
ment
B, PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR*^ Thorneloe (EPA);S. Friedrich (DOE);M.Bar-
laz, R. Ranjithan (NCSu)jK. Weitz, E. Kong, S. Nishtala
(RTI);C. Wiles. P. Shepherd(NREL);R. Ham (UW)
B. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO,
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
Research Triangle Institute
P. O. Box 12194
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
11, CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
CR 823052 (RTI)
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME ANO ADDRESS
EPA, Office of Research and Development
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
13. TYPE OF REPORT ANO PERIOD COVERED
Published paper; 9/Q4-4/QS
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA/600/13
is. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES AEERL grOject officer is Susan A, Thorneloe, Mail Drop 63, 919/
541-2709. Presented at 5th International Landfill Symposium, Cagliari, Italy,
10 /^~°
is. ABSTRACT-j-jjg paper discusses usingllle-cycle assessment principles to evaluate up-
stream and downstream environmental impacts to evaluate alternative municipal so-
lid waste (MSW) management options. This research will provide the MSW decision-
maker with more complete information on the environmental and economic impacts
of MSW management alternatives. Data will be collected to develop a life-cycle inven
tory (LCI) for environmental and cost impacts associated with raw materials acqui-
sition, manufacturing, use, and waste management. The LCI includes conducting
material and energy balance calculations for multi- pollutants and media for the eval-
uation of different MSW management options. A major goal of this research will be
the development of a LCI. To accomplish this goal, the following research activities
have been initiated: the (1) collection, review, and summary of data, building on re-
cent DOE and EPA research; (2) identification of major data gaps; (3) collection of
field data; and (4) implementation of life-cycle assessment methodology. To facili-
tate use of the data to apply to site specific analyses, a decision support tool is being
developed for use by solid waste management decision-makers. The paper provides
an overview of this research and the schedule for outputs, and discusses potential
applications.
7.
KEY WORDS ANO DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
Pollution
Wastes
Waste Disposal
Management
Evaluation
Circulation
Composts
Earth Fills
Combustion
Marketing
Transportation
Energy
Pollution Control
Stationary Sources
Waste Management
Recycling
13B
14G
15E
05A
02A
13 C
21B
05C
05E
18, DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release to Public
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
20. SECURITY CLASS fTMspage)
Unclassified
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-731
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