Title: | Assessment of the potential energy and environmental benefits of solid waste recycling in China |
Address: | "School of Business, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China; School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China. Electronic address: drcudjoedan@yahoo.com. School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China. Electronic address: wanghongbit@126.com. School of Business, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China. Electronic address: wpzbz@126.com" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113072 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1095-8630 (Electronic) 0301-4797 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Countries worldwide consider solid waste collection and recycling necessary due to the recent emphasis on conservation of resources and environmental protection. Due to the constraints from resource depletion and the need for sustainable economic growth, solid waste recycling has become a critical issue in China. Several indigenous researchers in China have studied the potential benefits of solid waste recycling. However, most studies limited the environmental assessment of solid waste recycling to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and considered only one type of solid waste (paper or plastic). Therefore, the present study analyzed the energy (electricity) and environmental (GHG and air pollutant emissions) benefits of recycling steel, nonferrous metal, plastic, and paper wastes from 2005 to 2017 in China. The study used the formulation of model equations method to estimate the electrical energy and environmental benefits. Prominent findings show that the total amount of electricity saved by recycling solid waste from 2005 to 2017 was 3743.3 Mtce. On average, solid waste recycling during the period led to a 43.2% saving on electricity. Solid waste recycling avoided 4765.9 billion kg of carbon dioxide emission and 22.502 billion kg of methane emission. It was also found that the recycling of solid waste saved a total amount of 10,669.8 M kg of NO(X) emission but had a burden of -6263.2 M kg of VOCs emission on the environment. Solid waste recycling avoided the emission of CO(2), CH(4), NO(X), and SO(X,) but the recycling of steel, plastics, and paper waste had negative impacts on the environment in terms of VOCs and PM emissions. Proper measures such as installing air pollution control devices should be put in place to minimize the emission of pollutants during the recycling of these solid wastes" |
Keywords: | *Air Pollutants/analysis Carbon Dioxide/analysis China Greenhouse Effect *Greenhouse Gases Recycling *Refuse Disposal Solid Waste Carbon dioxide Electricity Methane Nitrogen oxide Volatile organic compounds; |
Notes: | "MedlineCudjoe, Dan Wang, Hong Zhu, Bangzhu eng England 2021/06/19 J Environ Manage. 2021 Oct 1; 295:113072. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113072. Epub 2021 Jun 16" |