Determination of the Impact of Waste Management Activities on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 2005 Update Final Report Contract No. K2216-04-0006 Submitted to: Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada Submitted by: ICF Consulting October 31, 2005 Determination of the Impact of Waste Management Activities on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 2005 Update Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................1 1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................5 2 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................11 2.1 INPUTS AND BASELINES FOR THE STREAMLINED LIFE-CYCLE INVENTORY...............11 2.2 HOW THESE INPUTS ARE TALLIED AND COMPARED ....................................................13 2.2.1 GHG EMISSIONS AND CARBON SINKS ASSOCIATED WITH RAW MATERIALS ACQUISITION AND MANUFACTURING/FABRICATION .............................................................................................15 2.2.2 GHG EMISSIONS AND CARBON SINKS ASSOCIATED WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT.............25 2.3 ACCOUNTING ISSUES.......................................................................................................28 2.3.1 LANDFILL GAS – METHANE COMMITMENT VS. WASTE-IN-PLACE METHODS.....................28 2.3.2 CARBON SINKS...................................................................................................................28 2.3.3 TRANSBOUNDARY FLOW OF MATERIALS ...........................................................................29 3 METALS & GLASS ....................................................................................................................31 3.1 ALUMINUM.......................................................................................................................31 3.1.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................34 3.1.2 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................36 3.2 STEEL ...............................................................................................................................36 3.2.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................38 3.2.2 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................40 3.2.3 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................40 3.3 COPPER WIRE..................................................................................................................40 3.3.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................42 3.3.2 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................43 3.3.3 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................44 3.4 GLASS ...............................................................................................................................44 3.4.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................45 3.4.2 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................47 3.4.3 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................47 4 PLASTICS & TIRES...................................................................................................................49 4.1 HDPE, PET, AND OTHER PLASTIC PACKAGING............................................................49 4.1.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................50 4.1.2 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................52 4.1.3 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................52 4.2 TIRES ................................................................................................................................53 4.2.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................54 4.2.2 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................56 4.2.3 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................56 5 FOREST PRODUCTS.................................................................................................................59 5.1 NEWSPRINT, FINE PAPER, CARDBOARD, OTHER PAPER ..............................................59 5.1.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................61 5.1.2 ANAEROBIC DIGESTION......................................................................................................64 5.1.3 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................67 5.1.4 LANDFILLING .....................................................................................................................68 Final Report, October 31, 2005 Page i Determination of the Impact of Waste Management Activities on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 2005 Update 5.1.5 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................71 6 ORGANICS..................................................................................................................................73 6.1 FOOD SCRAPS AND YARD TRIMMINGS...........................................................................73 6.1.1 COMPOSTING......................................................................................................................73 6.1.2 ANAEROBIC DIGESTION......................................................................................................76 6.1.3 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................77 6.1.4 LANDFILLING .....................................................................................................................77 6.1.5 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................78 7 ELECTRONICS AND WHITE GOODS...................................................................................79 7.1 ELECTRONICS ..................................................................................................................79 7.1.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................81 7.1.2 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................82 7.1.3 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................83 7.2 WHITE GOODS .................................................................................................................83 7.2.1 RECYCLING ........................................................................................................................84 7.2.2 COMBUSTION .....................................................................................................................85 7.2.3 LIMITATIONS ......................................................................................................................86 8 EMISSION FACTOR OVERVIEW ..........................................................................................87 9 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................97 10 GLOSSARY................................................................................................................................101 APPENDIX A. PROVINCIAL ELECTRICITY GENERATION .....................................................103 1 PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL AVERAGE ELECTRICITY COEFFICIENTS ...........105 1.1 KEY DATA SOURCES AND ASSUMPTIONS.....................................................................105 1.2 BACKGROUND AND METHOD........................................................................................106 1.3 GENERAL METHOD USED TO PRODUCE END USE EMISSION FACTORS FOR ELECTRICITY ..............................................................................................................................106 1.4 PRE-COMBUSTION ADDERS ..........................................................................................107 1.4.1 PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS......................................................................................108 1.4.2 COAL................................................................................................................................108