title: LCA comparison of windrow composting of yard wastes with use as alternative daily cover (ADC).
abstract: This study compared the environmental impacts of composting yard wastes in windrows with using them in place of soil as alternative daily cover (ADC) in landfills. The Life Cycle Assessment was made using the SimaPro LCA software and showed that the ADC scenario is more beneficial for the environment than windrow composting. ADC use is also a less costly means of disposal of yard wastes. This finding applies only in cases where there are sanitary landfills in the area that are equipped with gas collection systems and can use yard wastes as alternative daily cover. Otherwise, the environmentally preferable method for disposal of source-separated yard wastes is composting rather than landfilling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA. rv2216@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Haaren
authors.forename: Nickolas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Themelis
authors.forename: Morton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barlaz
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012987:Soil; D018505:Waste Management / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014866:Waste Products