URBAN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN GREAT ABC REGION: LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS SCENARIOS
In recent decades, municipal Solid waste (MSW) management has become a topic
of great concern for public managers around the world, due to the fact that more and
more waste of different types is produced, many of these are complex to treat and to
disposal. As part of the solution to this problem, the Integrated Solid Waste Management
(ISWM) identifies actions related to the prevention, generation, collection, disposal and
reuse as appropriate for the correct waste management. However, these actions have
been dealt with sectorally and in a disjointed manner, obstructing an overall view of the
problem. Nowadays, the use of tools such as life cycle analysis - LCA - has supported
managers and leaders in choosing the most appropriate waste management system; one
that can be adapted to the needs, norms and specific rules of each place. In the case of
MSW management, this tool allows measuring the environmental impact produced by
the collection systems, types of treatment and disposal of MSW; thus helping decision
makers to choose the right strategy. The aim of this work is to evaluate and compare the
environmental performance of the MSW treatment and final disposal processes in the
region of the grande ABC, in São Paulo State, as part of the ISWN, in order to select the
most appropriate strategy for the location.