title: Economic and environmental optimization of waste treatment.
abstract: This article presents the new systems engineering optimization model, OptiWaste, which incorporates a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and captures important characteristics of waste management systems. As part of the optimization, the model identifies the most attractive waste management options. The model renders it possible to apply different optimization objectives such as minimizing costs or greenhouse gas emissions or to prioritize several objectives given different weights. A simple illustrative case is analysed, covering alternative treatments of one tonne of residual household waste: incineration of the full amount or sorting out organic waste for biogas production for either combined heat and power generation or as fuel in vehicles. The case study illustrates that the optimal solution depends on the objective and assumptions regarding the background system--illustrated with different assumptions regarding displaced electricity production. The article shows that it is feasible to combine LCA methodology with optimization. Furthermore, it highlights the need for including the integrated waste and energy system into the model.
authors.affiliation: System Analysis Department, DTU Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Münster
authors.affiliation: RAM-løse edb, Æblevangen 55, 2765 Smørum, Denmark.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ravn
authors.affiliation: System Analysis Department, DTU Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hedegaard
authors.affiliation: System Analysis Department, DTU Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Juul
authors.affiliation: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Box 53021, SE-40014 Gothenburg, Sweden; Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ljunggren Söderman
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D017745:Incineration; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D062611:Solid Waste
keywords: Biogas; Life cycle assessment; Multiple objective optimization; Organic household waste; Waste treatment