Lifecycle models continue to disrupt the waste and recycling industry as practice spreads

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a lifecycle model to local and state governments, one that challenges how most agencies manage their trash. Based on the Solid Waste Optimization Life-cycle Framework (SWOLF), the model looks at processes from waste collection, separation, landfilling, combustion, anaerobic digestion and composting. It quantifies materials, energy consumption and emissions associated with these processes. This kind of lifecycle based thinking is an example of how LCA tools continue to disrupt the waste and recycling industry as their use becomes more commonplace.

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