A Life Cycle Analysis to Optimally Manage Wasted Plastic Pesticide Containers

Abstract

Wasted Plastic Pesticide Containers (WPPC) represent the end-of-life cycle of used agrochemicals. Optimal treatment of these containers is necessary to protect both human health and the environment. In Europe, WPPC are typically rinsed after use and landfilled along with commingled Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). There seems to be no Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology in the international literature to compare the environmental impacts of the WPPC management methods. The goal of this work was to perform an LCA to quantify the environmental impacts of seven alternative scenarios to treat and dispose of Wasted Plastic Pesticide Containers and rank them according to their environmental footprints. Thirty-one WPPCs were sampled, triple-rinsed and an analysis of their residual active pesticide was performed. Those residuals amounts were included in the LCA when assembling the WPPC unit. The scenario in which WPPC are separately collected and recycled resulted in the lowest net environmental impacts. Scenario 5 (50% recycling and 50% incineration) and scenario 6 (50% recycling and 50% landfilling) were the next environmentally optimal technologies, while the landfilling scenario resulted in the highest environmental impacts. A sensitivity analysis was performed, using different impact assessment methods, different transportation distances and different types of landfills and incinerators. The residual pesticide amount did not alter the ranking of the management scenarios. Triple rinsing was found to render all wasted containers as non-hazardous wastes.