This study is a contribution to the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions in the waste sector in developing countries, especially through the determination of specific emission factors. The purpose is to determine the greenhouse gas emission factors of the various waste treatment units at the waste treatment and recovery centre in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) using the Life Cycle Analysis method. The emission factors were evaluated and then reduced to an equivalent CO2 emission per tonne of waste. The results show that landfill has the highest emission factors, with values ranging from 751.19 to 1,818.6 kg CO2 eq/tonne of waste for direct emissions, depending on whether or not sequestered carbon is taken into account, and from 7.24 to 1.31 kg CO2 eq/tonne for indirect emissions. Composting and plastic recovery units have negative EFs over their entire life cycle (-69.69 and -1736.65 Kg CO2 eq/tonne), thus contributing to net greenhouse gas savings. This study is the first of its kind to provide data that can be used for national accounting of greenhouse gas emissions in the waste sector
Read full abstract