Optimizing Solid Waste Management in Semi-Public Spaces

Abstract

This research focuses on identifying and evaluating ways to improve the sustainability of solid waste management (SWM) in semi-public spaces using the Efteling theme park as a case study. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to apply an integrated waste management approach to optimize SWM in this context. The approach consists of assessing the integrated environmental and economic burdens of the collection, transportation, sorting and treatment processes of a SWMstrategy. Approximately 10 alternative high potential SWM strategies were composed and selected out of a very large pool of possible SWM strategies. The environmental and economic impact of these high potential SWM strategies for the Efteling case was subsequently assessed using the WARM LCA model and a custom economic assessment model. The results reveal that emission reductions of up to 190 ton CO2 equivalents (TCO2E’s) per year, relative to the current strategy, can already be achieved by separating and recycling more fractions from behind-the-scenes (BTS) waste. This corresponds to an increase in yearly avoided SWM system emissions of about 25% for the Efteling case (from a life-cycle perspective). When public/semi-public (PSP) waste is also included, emission reductions of up to 800 TCO2E’s per year can be achieved for single-fraction separation (e.g. PMD or PET) and up to 960 TCO2E’s per year for two-fraction separation (e.g. PMD + paper or PMD + cups). This corresponds to major increases in avoided SWM system emissions of 110% and 131% respectively. It was also found that small interventions in the transport and/or treatment waste management components can make a big difference in the environmental and/or economic impact of a SWM strategy. A majority of the alternative SWM strategies has an eco-efficiency (emission reduction cost-effectiveness) ranging from €39 to about €140 per TCO2E saving. This eco-efficiency is (much) higher than that of a range of benchmarks such as the eco-efficiency of solar-pv panels at a non-industrial scale, wind turbines at sea and the eco-efficiency of office building insulation. This indicates that optimizing waste management should be given more priority in (scientific) research as well as in practice.