Prof. A. Rovetta * Prof. G Dotelli* Dr. P. Barattini** M.

Bonasso**

Life Cycle Assessment of an

Intelligent Waste Container

* Politecnico of Milano, Milan, Italy ** Kontor46 s.a.s., Turin, Italy

Italy-China Innovation Meeting, Peking 14/15 November 2013

Bottom Up selection, collection and management of URBAn waste A project financed by the European Commission in the

program: FP7-ENV-2010-256177
Italy-China Innovation Meeting, Peking 14/15 November 2013

The Consortium: technical Partners

DAppolonia S.p.a. Politecnico di Milano, Dept of Mechanics
Acorde Technologies S.A.

Italy

Italy

Spain

Kontor46 sas Tekever AOTO

Italy Portugal China

The Consortium: End-Users

Municipality of Camogli

Italy

Ayuntamiento de Santander

Spain

Rzeszow Municipality

Poland

Intelligent Waste Container IWAC

Intelligent Waste Container IWAC

IWAC Life Cycle Analysis - LCA

LCA: evaluation of the effects that a product has on the environment during its life cycle considering sundry categories of impact
In Burba the LCA was done according to: ILCD Handbook (16 impact categories) UNI EN ISO 14040
(Environmental management Life cycle assessment Principles and framework), 2006 management Lifecycle assessment Requirements and guidelines), 2006

UNI EN ISO 14044 (Environmental

IWAC Life Cycle Analysis - LCA

Question to be answered: Is the surplus of environmental impact of the BURBA system compared to that of a standard HDPE waste container counterbalanced by its benefits such as an increase of the percentage of recyclable separated materials ? Study case: Waste item: Aluminium cans Hypothesys: There is an increase in the percentage of their separation by the citizens thanks to the better services offered by the IWAC and the BURBA system

IWAC Life Cycle Analysis - LCA

IWAC Life Cycle Analysis - LCA

IWAC Life Cycle Analysis - LCA

The IWAC volume is 1100 liter: more than 3300 aluminium uncompressed cans. Under the assumption that the average waste disposal of MSW is 1.470g/habitant/day, the estimated aluminium waste disposal is 44 g/hab./day. If we consider that 1/3 of the 44 g/hab./day aluminum originates from cans, then we need 0,66 day of use of the IWAC dedicated to aluminum cans recovery in order to pay back the increased CO2 generated to produce the IWAC in comparison to the normal HDPE waste container If we consider that 1/6 of the 44 g/hab./day aluminum originates from cans, then 1,32 days are needed. If we consider 1/12 (that is 0,28 cans/habitant/day) than 2,63 days are needed.

Conclusion: the increased environmental impact (with regards to CO2 generation due to IWAC production is immediately counterbalanced.