Methodology of Material Recycling in Life Cycle Inventory

Abstract

A methodology for the evaluation of material recycling in the life cycle inventory (LCI) was established. In this study the concept of “material” is introduced, by which the system is extended to the cases that the materials are transferred from outside to inside or vice versa of the boundary of the system. The extension of the system should be performed by means of the same way of the circulation one, in accordance with the principle of consistency of the function unit and the each system boundary. Based on this method the environmental loads of recycled materials such as secondary aluminum, casting aluminum and EAF steel were reasonably calculated and the effect of recycling was properly evaluated.