Abstract
In this study, we comprehensively evaluated greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, terminal waste disposal and waste disposal cost related to municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment based on lifecycle inventory (LCI) analysis. Our evaluation considered multiple scenarios combining numerous MSW intermediate processing options. Material recycle of plastics was estimated to reduce 10% of GHG emission of the basic scenario in 2004. Also composting kitchen scraps was estimated to reduce 7% of GHG emission. Though thermal recovery by MSW incineration and/or methane fermentation of kitchen scraps was estimated to increase 9 to 12% of GHG emission, terminal waste disposal and waste disposal cost on the thermal recovery scenario could be lower than those on the material recycle scenarios.
