Sustainability assessment and prioritisation of bottom ash management in Macao
Journal
Waste Management and Research
Journal Volume
34
Journal Issue
12
Pages
1275-1282
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Abstract
In Macao, about 7200 t yr-1 of bottom ash (BA) is generated and conventionally landfilled with construction waste. Because the properties of BA are similar to those of natural aggregates, it is suitable to be recycled as construction material. However, pre-treatment processes for BA reuse may require more resource input and may generate additional environmental impacts. Life cycle assessment, multi-media transport model analysis, cost-benefit analysis and the analytical hierarchy process were conducted to evaluate the impacts of current and potential BA management scenarios regarding environmental, economic, social and regulatory aspects. The five analysed scenarios are as follows: (0) BA buried with construction and demolition waste (current system); (1) pre-treated BA used to replace 25% of the natural aggregate in asphalt concrete; (2) pre-treated BA used to replace 25% of the natural aggregate in cement concrete; (3) pre-treated BA used to replace 25% of cement in cement concrete; and (4) pre-treated BA sent to China, blended with municipal solid waste for landfill. The results reveal the following ranking of the scenarios: 3 > 2 > 0 > 1 > 4. Scenario 3 shows the best conditions for BA recycling, because the quantity of cement concrete output is the highest and this brings the greatest economic benefits. Our use of integrated analysis provides multi-aspect investigations for BA management systems, particularly in accounting for site-specific characteristics. This approach is suitable for application in other non-western regions. ©The Author(s) 2016.
Subjects
analytical hierarchy process; Bottom ash; cost-benefit analysis; life cycle assessment; life cycle sustainability assessment; Macao; multi-media transport model
Other Subjects
Aggregates; Ash handling; Ashes; Cements; Concretes; Demolition; Environmental impact; Life cycle; Municipal solid waste; Recycling; Sustainable development; Analytical Hierarchy Process; Bottom ash; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Life cycle sustainability assessments; Macao; Transport modeling; Cost benefit analysis; asphalt; cement; concrete; carcinogen; fly ash; analytical hierarchy process; asphalt; bottom ash; concrete; cost-benefit analysis; economic development; landfill; landfill liner; municipal solid waste; sustainability; Article; bottom ash; building industry; China; cost benefit analysis; economic aspect; environmental sustainability; industrial waste; landfill; life cycle assessment; Macao; municipal solid waste; priority journal; recycling; solid waste management; analysis; building material; chemistry; economics; environment; fly ash; fuzzy logic; human; incineration; procedures; public opinion; theoretical model; toxicity; waste disposal; waste disposal facility; waste management; China; China; Macau; Carcinogens; China; Coal Ash; Construction Materials; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Environment; Fuzzy Logic; Humans; Incineration; Macau; Models, Theoretical; Public Opinion; Recycling; Refuse Disposal; Waste Disposal Facilities; Waste Management
Publisher
SAGE Publications Ltd
Type
journal article