The economic assessment of the environmental and social impacts generated by a light packaging and bulky waste sorting and treatment facility in Spain: a circular economy example

Samer Ajour El Zein,Luis Seguí-Amórtegui,Rubí Medina-Mijangos,Hilda Guerrero-García-Rojas

doi:10.1186/s12302-021-00519-6

Abstract

BackgroundThe waste sorting and treatment facilities play an important role in the management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), as they permit the materials to be prepared for their later reuse and recycling. The aim of this work is to carry out a technical–economic analysis of a sorting and treatment facility (STF) of light packaging and bulky waste in Gavà-Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain, by means of a methodology based on a social Cost–Benefit Analysis (sCBA), as it studies the private impacts and externalities (impacts related with environmental and social aspects) to determine the Total Benefit (the difference between revenues and costs) generated by the facility to decide whether it is operationally and economically profitable.ResultsThe key point of the case study is the identification, frequency, quantification and monetary valuation of the impacts generated by the facility, as well as the sale of materials, the CO2 emissions and the increase in the availability of materials, among others. By applying the methodology, it has been possible to show that this facility is operationally (BP = 7.06 €/ton) as well as economically (BT = 55.72 €/ton) profitable.ConclusionsThe plant is highly profitable from a social and environmental perspective, as can be seen from the monetary valuation of the externalities. The STF fulfils a primordial function for the city of Barcelona and its environs, as it treats waste for later reuse and recycling, preventing waste from being sent to landfills and reducing the CO2 emissions from the extraction of virgin raw materials, thereby helping to reach the objectives set by the European Commission. Finally, this paper provides a guide for future researchers and decision makers interested in the economic analysis of MSW management systems.

Highlights

The waste sorting and treatment facilities play an important role in the management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), as they permit the materials to be prepared for their later reuse and recycling
The details in this document are specific to a Spanish context, the methodology used is of universal application, as it can determine and analyse different potential impacts arising from the MSW treatment
It can be extrapolated to the analysis of other treatment plants, allowing the researchers to consider the same types of impacts described in this work but adapted to specific contexts to reduce decision-makers’ uncertainty

Summary

Introduction

The waste sorting and treatment facilities play an important role in the management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), as they permit the materials to be prepared for their later reuse and recycling. The circular economy emerges as an alternative to the current linear economy model, where materials and products are used for a short time and are discarded, generally ending up in landfills, generating negative impacts (environmental and social) [1]. Recycling is considered beneficial for the environment and the economy [4] It mitigates the lack of resources by reducing the consumption of raw materials, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills, and extending their useful working life. Recycling avoids costs due to the extraction and production of new raw materials and costs due to landfilling or incineration of waste (i.e., payment of gate fees, environmental and public health damage costs)

Methods

Results

Conclusion