Defining Environmental Impacts of Recycling Plastic Film Wastes

Abstract

This study assesses the environmental impacts of different plastic film waste recyclingsystems using life-cycle assessment. Three collection scenarios, urban area curbside collection, rural area curbside collection, and consumer drop-off, and two final disposal methods, landfill and incineration with energy recovery are analyzed in this study. IMPACT 2002+ method is used to evaluate their environmental impacts, i.e. human health, ecosystem quality, climate change and resource. Sensitivity analysis on different variables (recycling rate and waste to energy conversion rate et al.) was also conducted. The results show the advantage of recycling over landfilling and incineration in terms of environmental impacts. Recycling rate and energy conversion efficiency is two key parameters to keep the overall environmental benefits.