Where do islands put their waste? – A material flow and carbon footprint analysis of municipal waste management in the Maltese Islands

Implementing the Results of Material Flow Analysis

Waste management policy goal is the circular use of resources, so the interest is to place on the market goods and materials produced and able to be recycled and reused over time. The European Union’s measures about the Circular Economy and Ecodesign are focused on the need to modify current production and consumption patterns, intervening along the lifecycle of goods, extending their useful life and increasing the recycle and reuse when they come to the end of life. Following the End of Life’s (EOL) approach the purpose of this research is to analyze bottled water industry, focusing on the circulation of primary packaging (PET bottles and HDPE caps) and to achieve this goal are proposed two methods: the Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and the Carbon Footprint (CF). MFA is used to determine the total inputs (natural and energy resources consumption) and total outputs (waste products) of PET and HDPE production, while CF is used to evaluate the environmental impacts in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The knowledge of the materials flow, in terms of raw materials and energy resources used, as well as greenhouse gas emissions mainly associated to the quantity of goods not recycled, could make waste management system more efficient, allowing the transition from a linear economy model to a model of circular economy. Over the last twenty-five years, the annual national consumption of bottled water in Italy shows an increasing trend, reaching 12 billion L (2015), of which 9 billion L bottled in the plastic packaging and the remainder (25%) bottled in glass and cardboard. The estimates indicate that, in Italy, the packaging of bottled water sector requires much material inputs (higher material 98,000-187,000 t of PET, 6,500-14,700 t of HDPE) and energy inputs (9,000-21,000 TJ). With regard to the total amount of 105,000-201,000 t of resins used, approximately 42,000-80,000 t are recycled, 47,000-90,000 t are allocated to energy recovery and 15,000-30,000 t are disposed in landfills. The two methodologies proposed (MFA and CF) could provide valuable results for a better determination of the materials and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the reference market, to optimize also the eco-design of the packaging and to provide more complete information for a more efficient waste management to the decision makers.

The concept of metabolism takes root in biology and ecology as a systematic way to account for material flows in organisms and ecosystems. Early applications of the concept attempted to quantify the amount of water and food the human body processes to live and sustain itself. Similarly, ecologists have long studied the metabolism of critical substances and nutrients in ecological succession towards climax. With industrialization, the material and energy requirements of modern economic activities have grown exponentially, together with emissions to the air, water and soil. From an analogy with ecosystems, the concept of metabolism grew into an analytical methodology for economic systems. Research in the field of material flow analysis has developed approaches to modeling economic systems by assessing the stocks and flows of substances and materials for systems defined in space and time. Material flow analysis encompasses different methods: industrial and urban metabolism, input–output analysis, economy-wide material flow accounting, socioeconomic metabolism, and more recently material flow cost accounting. Each method has specific scales, reference substances such as metals, and indicators such as concentration. A material flow analysis study usually consists of a total of four consecutive steps: (a) system definition, (b) data acquisition, (c) calculation, and (d) interpretation. The law of conservation of mass underlies every application, which implies that all material flows, as well as stocks, must be accounted for. In the early 21st century, material depletion, accumulation, and recycling are well-established cases of material flow analysis. Diagnostics and forecasts, as well as historical or backcast analyses, are ideally performed in a material flow analysis, to identify shifts in material consumption for product life cycles or physical accounting and to evaluate the material and energy performance of specific systems. In practice, material flow analysis supports policy and decision making in urban planning, energy planning, economic and environmental performance, development of industrial symbiosis and eco industrial parks, closing material loops and circular economy, pollution remediation/control and material and energy supply security. Although material flow analysis assesses the amount and fate of materials and energy rather than their environmental or human health impacts, a tacit assumption states that reduced material throughputs limit such impacts.

The novelty of this paper is the demonstration of the effectiveness of combining material flow analysis (MFA) with substance flow analysis (SFA) for decision making in waste management. Both MFA and SFA are based on the mass balance principle. While MFA alone has been applied often for analysing material flows quantitatively and hence to determine the capacities of waste treatment processes, SFA is more demanding but instrumental in evaluating the performance of a waste management system regarding the goals "resource conservation" and "environmental protection". SFA focuses on the transformations of wastes during waste treatment: valuable as well as hazardous substances and their transformations are followed through the entire waste management system. A substance-based approach is required because the economic and environmental properties of the products of waste management - recycling goods, residues and emissions - are primarily determined by the content of specific precious or harmful substances. To support the case that MFA and SFA should be combined, a case study of waste management scenarios is presented. For three scenarios, total material flows are quantified by MFA, and the mass flows of six indicator substances (C, N, Cl, Cd, Pb, Hg) are determined by SFA. The combined results are compared to the status quo in view of fulfilling the goals of waste management. They clearly point out specific differences between the chosen scenarios, demonstrating potentials for improvement and the value of the combination of MFA/SFA for decision making in waste management.

The healthcare sector in the United States has increased its greenhouse gas emissions by 6% since 2010 and today has the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions globally. Assessing the environmental impact and material use through the methods of life cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA) of healthcare procedures, products, and processes can aid in developing impactful strategies for reductions, yet such assessments have not been performed in orthopaedic surgery. We conducted an LCA and an MFA on an ACL reconstruction (ACLR). The ACLR served as a test case on the assumption that lessons learned would likely prove relevant to other orthopaedic procedures. (1) What are the life cycle environmental impacts of ACLR? (2) What is the material flow and material circularity of ACLR? (3) What potential interventions would best address the life cycle environmental impacts and material circularity of ACLR? First, we conducted an LCA according to International Organization for Standardization standards for quantifying a product's environmental impact across its entire life cycle. One result of an LCA is global warming potential measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 eq), or carbon footprint. Second, we conducted an MFA of ACLR. Material flow analyses are used to quantify the amount of material in a determined system by tracking the input, usage, and output of materials, allowing for the identification of where materials are consumed inefficiently or lost to the environment. To contextualize the MFA, we calculated the material circularity indicator (MCI) index. This is used to measure how materials are circulating in a system and to evaluate the extent to which materials are recovered, reused, and kept within the economic loop rather than disposed of as waste. These three methods are widely used in other fields, especially engineering, but are more limited in healthcare research. Data collection and observations of ACLRs were made during ACLRs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Bethel Park Surgical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, between 2022 and 2023. Three sessions of data collection and observations were needed due to complexity and scheduling, ranging from understanding the sterilization procedures to weighing individual items. Data encompassing electricity usage; surgical equipment type; the use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; the production and reuse of reusable instruments and gowns; and the production and disposal of single-use surgical products were collected. Following data collection, we conducted the LCA and the MFA and then calculated the MCI for a representation of a single ACLR. To identify strategies to reduce the environmental impact of ACLR, we modeled 11 possible sustainability interventions developed from prior work and compared those strategies against the impact of the baseline ACLR. Our results show that the ACLR generated an estimated life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of 47 kg of CO 2 eq, which is analogous to driving a typical gasoline-fueled passenger vehicle for 120 miles. The total mass of all products for one ACLR was estimated at 12.73 kg, including 7.55 kg for disposable materials and 5.19 kg for reusable materials. Concerning material circularity, ACLR had a baseline MCI index of 0.3. Employing LCA for the carbon footprint and the MCI for 11 sustainability interventions indicated the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 42%, along with an increase in circularity (how materials are recovered, reused, and kept within the economic loop rather than disposed of as waste) of up to 0.8 per ACLR. Among the most impactful interventions are the reduction in the utilization of surgical pack products, reutilization of cotton towels and surgical gowns, maximization of energy efficiency, and increasing aluminum and paper recycling. ACLR has a substantial carbon footprint, which can meaningfully be reduced by creating a minimalist custom pack without material wastage, reusing cotton towels, and maximizing recycling. Combining LCA, MFA, and MCI can provide a thorough assessment of sustainability in orthopaedic surgery. Orthopaedic surgeons and staff can immediately reduce the environmental impact of orthopaedic procedures such as ACLR by opening fewer materials-via making minimalist packs and only opening what is needed in the operating room-and by incorporating more reusable materials such as towels. Larger scale medical center changes, such as implementing recycling programs and installing energy-efficient systems, also can make a meaningful difference in reducing environmental impact.

Material flow analysis( MFA) is an objective,quantifiable and concise tool for system assessment. As the core content of industrial ecology,it includes bulk-MFA and substance flow analysis( SFA),has been widely applied in different environmental-economic systems at global-level,nation-level,region-level and city-level,and developed into a significant tool in quantifying circular economy,eco-efficiency,low-carbon society and other concepts of sustainable development. In recent years,as MFA at the nation-level come to be a standard research method on the basis of studies carried by World Resources Institute and European Commission,research importance of MFA at smaller scale highlights, and studies of material flow,metabolism and resource flow at regional level become the focus and hotspots of MFA. Based on analysis of existing studies,current status of regional MFA is briefly reviewed from perspectives of research framework, indicator system,data integration and management application,and "black box hypothesis"and "systematic metaphor" turned out to be the theoretical root of current difficulty of regional MFA. Based on levels of organization integrated with complexity science and grand evolutionary theory,metaphor of"ecosystem"in industrial ecology as well as regional MFA is generally analyzed,and the necessity of introduction of"landscape"into regional MFA is raised to improve the spatial and cognitive dimension of regional MFA. From "system"to "landscape",landscape ecology principles are introduced in the regional MFA,contributions of landscape ecology in regional MFA are generalized in 6 tenets: 1) emphasizing the structural difference between natural ecosystem and socio-economic system,and providing a hierarchical and integrativeecological basis; 2) the landscape( or region) as a basic spatial unit for studying human-nature interactions,providing a holistic approaches to socio-ecological systems; 3) combine "flow"in MFA with "source"and "sink"in landscape, combine "stock or reservoir"with "patch",and "flow or flux"with "corridor",and transfer "material flow in system" into "material flow in space"; 4) developing material flow observation,investigation and experiment in landscape,combine subjective and objective data in a mechanistic method; 5) combine material flow of great amount with patch dynamic and assess the environmental impact based on spatial variation; 6) combine MFA with other tools of sustainability assessment like ecological footprint and sustainable livelihood,and providing implications for regional management. Based on "PatchCorridor-Matrix Model","patch dynamics","Hierarchy theory",as well as the "Hierarchical Patch Dynamic Paradigm( HPDP) ",spatial structure of regional material flow process is established and interpreted. Meanwhile,cognitive schemata of regional material flow process is analyzed and compared from psychological and logical perspectives. For further interpretation of the landscape orientation of regional MFA,multi-scale integrated assessment of material flow analysis, spatial-temporal modeling of material flow process and spatial management of material flow process are discussed deeply. At the end of this paper,regional MFA is further considered from a perspective of interdisciplinary,it concludes that rather than reflects the competition between ecosystem ecology and landscape ecology,paradigm shift from system to landscape of regional MFA solidifies the theoretical basis of MFA,and expands the research field of landscape ecology.

In this paper, the application of Umberto NXT LCA software to devise a Material and Energy Flow Analyses (MEFA) for the technology of producing electricity from gas extracted in the process of shaftless underground coal gasification is presented. The Material Flow Analyses of underground coal gasification includes a range of technology, through obtaining process gas and its purification, to electricity production, and, additionally, the capture of carbon dioxide. To evaluate electricity production based on Underground Coal Gasification, Material and Energy Flow Analyses (MEFA) was used. Modeling material and energy flow helps a high level of efficiency or technology of a given process to be reached, through the effective use of resources and energy, or waste management. The applied software for modeling material flow enables, not only, the simulation of industrial processes, but also the simulation of any process with a material or energy flow, e.g. in agriculture. MEFA enabled the visualization of material and energy flow between individual unit processes of the technology of electricity production from UCG gas. An analysis of material and energy flow networks presented in the form of Sankey diagrams enabled the identification of unit processes with the biggest consumption of raw materials and energy, and the greatest amount of emissions to the environment. Thanks to applying material and energy flow networks with Umberto software, it is possible to visualize the flow of materials and energy in an analyzed system (process/technology). The visualization can be presented in the form of an inventory list of input and output data, or in the form of a Sankey diagram. In the article, a Sankey diagram has been utilized. MEFA is first stage of the plan to conduct analyses using Umberto software. The analyses performed so far will be used in the following stages of the research to assess the environmental impact using the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) technique, to analyze costs using the LCC (Life Cycle Cost) technique, and to analyze eco-efficiency. It is important to highlight the fact that this is the first attempt of material and energy flow analysis of electricity production from UCG gas. This is the first approach which contains a whole chain of electricity production from Underground Coal Gasification, including stages of gas cleaning, electricity production and the additional capture of carbon dioxide.

Purpose In this paper, the application of Umberto NXT LCA software to devise a Material and Energy Flow Analyses (MEFA) for the technology of producing electricity from gas extracted in the process of shaftless underground coal gasification is presented. The Material Flow Analyses of underground coal gasification includes a range of technology, through obtaining process gas and its purification, to electricity production, and, additionally, the capture of carbon dioxide. Methods To evaluate electricity production based on Underground Coal Gasification, Material and Energy Flow Analyses (MEFA) was used. Modeling material and energy flow helps a high level of efficiency or technology of a given process to be reached, through the effective use of resources and energy, or waste management. The applied software for modeling material flow enables, not only, the simulation of industrial processes, but also the simulation of any process with a material or energy flow, e.g. in agriculture. Results MEFA enabled the visualization of material and energy flow between individual unit processes of the technology of electricity production from UCG gas. An analysis of material and energy flow networks presented in the form of Sankey diagrams enabled the identification of unit processes with the biggest consumption of raw materials and energy, and the greatest amount of emissions to the environment. Practical implications Thanks to applying material and energy flow networks with Umberto software, it is possible to visualize the flow of materials and energy in an analyzed system (process/technology). The visualization can be presented in the form of an inventory list of input and output data, or in the form of a Sankey diagram. In the article, a Sankey diagram has been utilized. MEFA is first stage of the plan to conduct analyses using Umberto software. The analyses performed so far will be used in the following stages of the research to assess the environmental impact using the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) technique, to analyze costs using the LCC (Life Cycle Cost) technique, and to analyze eco-efficiency. It is important to highlight the fact that this is the first attempt of material and energy flow analysis of electricity production from UCG gas. Originality/value This is the first approach which contains a whole chain of electricity production from Underground Coal Gasification, including stages of gas cleaning, electricity production and the additional capture of carbon dioxide.

Purpose In this paper, the application of Umberto NXT LCA software to devise a Material and Energy Flow Analyses (MEFA) for the technology of producing electricity from gas extracted in the process of shaftless underground coal gasification is presented. The Material Flow Analyses of underground coal gasification includes a range of technology, through obtaining process gas and its purification, to electricity production, and, additionally, the capture of carbon dioxide. Methods To evaluate electricity production based on Underground Coal Gasification, Material and Energy Flow Analyses (MEFA) was used. Modeling material and energy flow helps a high level of efficiency or technology of a given process to be reached, through the effective use of resources and energy, or waste management. The applied software for modeling material flow enables, not only, the simulation of industrial processes, but also the simulation of any process with a material or energy flow, e.g. in agriculture. Results MEFA enabled the visualization of material and energy flow between individual unit processes of the technology of electricity production from UCG gas. An analysis of material and energy flow networks presented in the form of Sankey diagrams enabled the identification of unit processes with the biggest consumption of raw materials and energy, and the greatest amount of emissions to the environment. Practical implications Thanks to applying material and energy flow networks with Umberto software, it is possible to visualize the flow of materials and energy in an analyzed system (process/technology). The visualization can be presented in the form of an inventory list of input and output data, or in the form of a Sankey diagram. In the article, a Sankey diagram has been utilized. MEFA is first stage of the plan to conduct analyses using Umberto software. The analyses performed so far will be used in the following stages of the research to assess the environmental impact using the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) technique, to analyze costs using the LCC (Life Cycle Cost) technique, and to analyze eco-efficiency. It is important to highlight the fact that this is the first attempt of material and energy flow analysis of electricity production from UCG gas. Originality/value This is the first approach which contains a whole chain of electricity production from Underground Coal Gasification, including stages of gas cleaning, electricity production and the additional capture of carbon dioxide.

Investigating the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste management using ant colony algorithm, Monte Carlo simulation and LCA approach in terms of EU Green Deal

Methodology of supporting decision-making of waste management with material flow analysis (MFA) and consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA): case study of waste paper recycling

Material use within construction dominates resource consumption worldwide. Correspondingly, construction is associated with high rates of waste. Transitioning to a circular economy relies heavily on domestic markets, efficient supply chains, and a clear understanding of current and predicted material flows. Material flow analyses have been used extensively globally to generate insights into materials in use, changes over time and future waste generation. However, existing databases do not hold the necessary information to conduct such an analysis for the Australian residential construction industry. This paper uses a novel qualitative bottom-up approach to complement data gaps in existing databases to establish a material stock and flow analysis of the Australian residential construction industry. This approach has highlighted the dominance and continued growth of concrete by the sector, and has shown the importance of addressing data gaps in the industry as well as employing a location-based approach to move towards the circular economy.

A waste management planning based on substance flow analysis

Zero waste initiatives in Slovenian municipalities: A material flow and life cycle assessment analyses

This paper gives a solution to the problem of improving a solid waste management system through the integration of two systemic methodologies: material flow analysis and life cycle assessment. The proposed method serves to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of various waste management measures. The study was carried out with the detailing of the anaerobic digestion process since it is this recycling technology that plays a key role in reducing the amount of waste along with the production of renewable energy and in reducing the adverse effects on the external environment. Simulation of changes in waste properties in a certain processing sequence was carried out in order to obtain reliable information for further optimization of the system. The proposed modeling of waste treatment processes based on their constituent equations made it possible to adequately reflect the impact of changes in working conditions on all subsequent output flows. The analysis of material flows for an enterprise of mechanical and biological treatment of waste is presented and the use of the model in the context of the process of anaerobic digestion of household waste is illustrated. It was found that anaerobic digestion potentially makes it possible to obtain 4.1 Gj of biogas energy from 1 HSW, which corresponds to 460 kWh of electricity and 2060 MJ of heat. The developed method is based on a combination of analysis of material flows and life cycle assessment. The method acts as a tool for comparing alternative technologies and waste management scenarios. In the future, it can serve to support waste management decisions at both the strategic and operational levels