Life-cycle assessment of solid-waste management in city of Zagreb, Croatia

In terms of improvement of the existing municipal solid-waste management system in city of Zagreb (Croatia) in a line with legal requirements and its shift towards circular economy, two scenarios were investigated. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used to compare the existing municipal solid-waste management system mainly relay on landfilling of waste with expanded system combining mechanical separation of recyclable fractions of mixed municipal waste (MMW), anaerobic digestion of organic fraction, and thermal treatment of residual waste. The waste management-dedicated LCA software EASETECH was used for the assessment of the scenarios in accordance with the EDIP 1997 LCA method. Improved solid-waste management scenario showed superior results in terms of increased recycling rate of valuable materials and overall environmental performance. Because of introduction of convenient mechanical, biological, and thermal treatment technologies, it enables fulfilment of legal obligation concerning waste recycling targets and landfilling of waste.