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Gudrun Obersteiner
Institute of Waste Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria

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Journal article
Published: 09 April 2021 in Sustainability
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Food and plastic waste are cited as major environmental challenges. The function of packaging is often overlooked when considering waste; however, food packaging is indispensable for hygienic protection during transport and distribution within the supply chain. An important way to prevent the premature spoilage of a variety of different food product groups is to use specially optimized packaging systems. These are able to provide a high level of protection and actively extend shelf life. However, even if novel packaging systems theoretically have great potential for waste reduction, it remains uncertain whether they will also be accepted at the consumer level and actually contribute to waste reduction within households. Three different methods were used to clarify consumers’ perceptions of optimized packaging and thus the potential impact on waste generation. General perceptions have been identified by means of quantitative research among 1117 consumers. Precise information on waste generation behavior was obtained by means of food diaries. Consumer simulations were used to analyze the extent to which optimized packaging can actually have a positive effect on food waste generation at the household level. It was found that the functionality of the packaging usually ceases with the consumer. Consumers are only marginally aware of the advantages of food product packaging in the household, and do not perceive the direct connection between packaging, freshness, shelf life, and spoilage as food waste. In general, consumers rarely or never use optimized packaging at home correctly. It could be concluded that consumers’ perceptions of optimized packaging in terms of potential food waste prevention are not pronounced. In summary, it can be stated that in contrast to its use in retail and transport, an optimization of packaging to avoid food waste for later use by the consumer only shows an effect in exceptional cases, or can only be achieved through targeted information campaigns. If this should be a focus topic in the future, either on the political or managerial level, this has to be taken into account.

ACS Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Marta Cociancig; Sandra Luck; Johannes Mayerhofer. Impact of Optimized Packaging on Food Waste Prevention Potential among Consumers. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4209 .

AMA Style

Gudrun Obersteiner, Marta Cociancig, Sandra Luck, Johannes Mayerhofer. Impact of Optimized Packaging on Food Waste Prevention Potential among Consumers. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (8):4209.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Marta Cociancig; Sandra Luck; Johannes Mayerhofer. 2021. "Impact of Optimized Packaging on Food Waste Prevention Potential among Consumers." Sustainability 13, no. 8: 4209.

Journal article
Published: 23 March 2021 in Energies
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This paper assesses the potential environmental effects of the optimization of the kitchen waste management in Opole. The separate collection of kitchen waste is improved by distribution of separate collection kits consisting of an in-home bin and 10 L biodegradable bags. The surplus of collected kitchen waste is diverted from treatment in a mechanical-biological pretreatment (MBP) along with the residual waste to anaerobic digestion (AD) with the biowaste. This has positive effects on European and Polish goals, ambitions, and targets, such as (i) increasing the level of renewables in the primary energy supply, (ii) decreasing the level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, (iii) increasing the level of preparation for reuse and recycling of municipal waste. The environmental effects of 1 ton additionally separately collected and treated kitchen waste are determined by using life cycle assessment. It was shown that in all selected impact categories (global warming potential, marine eutrophication potential, acidification potential, and ozone depletion potential) a clear environmental benefit can be achieved. These benefits are mainly caused by the avoided emissions of electricity and heat from the Polish production mix, which are substituted by energy generation from biogas combustion. Optimization of the waste management system by diversion of kitchen waste from mechanical-biological pretreatment to anaerobic digestion can lead to considerable saving of 448 kg CO2-eq/t of waste diverted. With an estimated optimization potential for the demonstration site of 40 kg/inh·year for the city of Opole, this would lead to 680,000 t CO2-eq savings per year for the whole of Poland. The sensitivity analysis showed that with a choice for cleaner energy sources the results would, albeit lower, show a significant savings potential.

ACS Style

Jan Boer; Gudrun Obersteiner; Sebastian Gollnow; Emilia Boer; Renata Bodnárné Sándor. Enhancement of Food Waste Management and Its Environmental Consequences. Energies 2021, 14, 1790 .

AMA Style

Jan Boer, Gudrun Obersteiner, Sebastian Gollnow, Emilia Boer, Renata Bodnárné Sándor. Enhancement of Food Waste Management and Its Environmental Consequences. Energies. 2021; 14 (6):1790.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jan Boer; Gudrun Obersteiner; Sebastian Gollnow; Emilia Boer; Renata Bodnárné Sándor. 2021. "Enhancement of Food Waste Management and Its Environmental Consequences." Energies 14, no. 6: 1790.

Editorial
Published: 15 May 2019 in Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft
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ACS Style

Gudrun Obersteiner. Lebensmittelabfälle. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 2019, 71, 236 -237.

AMA Style

Gudrun Obersteiner. Lebensmittelabfälle. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft. 2019; 71 (5-6):236-237.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gudrun Obersteiner. 2019. "Lebensmittelabfälle." Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 71, no. 5-6: 236-237.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2018 in Waste Management
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Approximately 88 Million tonnes (Mt) of food is wasted in the European Union each year and the environmental impacts of these losses throughout the food supply chain are widely recognised. This study illustrates the impacts of food waste in relation to the total food utilised, including the impact from food waste management based on available data at the European level. The impacts are calculated for the Global Warming Potential, the Acidification Potential and the Eutrophication Potential using a bottom-up approach using more than 134 existing LCA studies on nine representative products (apple, tomato, potato, bread, milk, beef, pork, chicken, white fish). Results show that 186 Mt CO2-eq, 1.7 Mt SO2-eq. and 0.7 Mt PO4-eq can be attributed to food waste in Europe. This is 15 to 16% of the total impact of the entire food supply chain. In general, the study confirmed that most of the environmental impacts are derived from the primary production step of the chain. That is why animal-containing food shows most of the food waste related impacts when it is extrapolated to total food waste even if cereals are higher in mass. Nearly three quarters of all food waste-related impacts for Global Warming originate from greenhouse gas emissions during the production step. Emissions by food processing activities contribute 6%, retail and distribution 7%, food consumption, 8% and food disposal, 6% to food waste related impacts. Even though the results are subject to certain data and scenario uncertainties, the study serves as a baseline assessment, based on current food waste data, and can be expanded as more knowledge on the type and amount of food waste becomes available. Nevertheless, the importance of food waste prevention is underlined by the results of this study, as most of the impacts originate from the production step. Through food waste prevention, those impacts can be avoided as less food needs to be produced.

ACS Style

Silvia Scherhaufer; Graham Moates; Hanna Hartikainen; Keith Waldron; Gudrun Obersteiner. Environmental impacts of food waste in Europe. Waste Management 2018, 77, 98 -113.

AMA Style

Silvia Scherhaufer, Graham Moates, Hanna Hartikainen, Keith Waldron, Gudrun Obersteiner. Environmental impacts of food waste in Europe. Waste Management. 2018; 77 ():98-113.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvia Scherhaufer; Graham Moates; Hanna Hartikainen; Keith Waldron; Gudrun Obersteiner. 2018. "Environmental impacts of food waste in Europe." Waste Management 77, no. : 98-113.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2015 in Waste Management
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Disparities in earnings between Western and Eastern European countries are the reason for a well-established informal sector actively involved in collection and transboundary shipment activities from Austria to Hungary. The preferred objects are reusable items and wastes within the categories bulky waste, WEEE and metals, intended to be sold on flea markets. Despite leading to a loss of recyclable resources for Austrian waste management, these informal activities may contribute to the extension of the lifetime of certain goods when they are reused in Hungary; nevertheless they are discussed rather controversially. The aim of this paper is to provide objective data on the quantities informally collected and transhipped. The unique activities of informal collectors required the development and implementation of a new set of methodologies. The concept of triangulation was used to verify results obtained by field visits, interviews and a traffic counting campaign. Both approaches lead to an estimation of approx. 100,000 t per year of reusable items informally collected in Austria. This means that in addition to the approx. 72 kg/cap/yr formally collected bulky waste, bulky waste wood, household scrap (excluding packaging) and WEEE, up to a further 12 kg/cap/yr might, in the case that informal collection is abandoned, end up as waste or in the second-hand sector.

ACS Style

R. Ramusch; A. Pertl; S. Scherhaufer; E. Schmied; G. Obersteiner. Modelling informally collected quantities of bulky waste and reusable items in Austria. Waste Management 2015, 44, 3 -14.

AMA Style

R. Ramusch, A. Pertl, S. Scherhaufer, E. Schmied, G. Obersteiner. Modelling informally collected quantities of bulky waste and reusable items in Austria. Waste Management. 2015; 44 ():3-14.

Chicago/Turabian Style

R. Ramusch; A. Pertl; S. Scherhaufer; E. Schmied; G. Obersteiner. 2015. "Modelling informally collected quantities of bulky waste and reusable items in Austria." Waste Management 44, no. : 3-14.

Editorial
Published: 17 September 2015 in Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft
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ACS Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Anke Bockreis. Ökobilanz in der Abfallwirtschaft. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 2015, 67, 357 -358.

AMA Style

Gudrun Obersteiner, Anke Bockreis. Ökobilanz in der Abfallwirtschaft. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft. 2015; 67 (9-10):357-358.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Anke Bockreis. 2015. "Ökobilanz in der Abfallwirtschaft." Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 67, no. 9-10: 357-358.

Originalarbeit
Published: 09 September 2015 in Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft
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Die Herstellung von Pflanzenkohle aus Bioabfällen als potentiell neue Abfallbehandlungsmöglichkeit sowie ihre Bedeutung bei der Bodensubstratherstellung (bzw. als Bodenverbesserungsmittel) und damit als Möglichkeit der Kohlenstoffspeicherung in Böden hat in Österreich erst seit kurzer Zeit Beachtung gefunden. Pflanzenkohlen werden industriell z. B. mittels Pyrolyseverfahren hergestellt, wobei erste industrielle Produktionsanlagen erst in den letzten Jahren in Betrieb genommen wurden. Bei diesen vergleichsweise neuen Technologien müssen die Umweltauswirkungen größtenteils erst untersucht und das Herstellungsverfahren entsprechend evaluiert werden. In Österreich befindet sich aktuell eine Pilotanlage zur Pflanzenkohleproduktion in Betrieb. Erhebungen und Analysen während des Pilotbetriebes boten die Möglichkeit einer erstmaligen umfassenden Bewertung der umweltrelevanten Auswirkungen, welche bei der Herstellung von Pflanzenkohle aus diversen biogenen Abfallströmen entstehen können. Als Inputmaterial zum Einsatz kommen in der untersuchten Anlage vorwiegend Getreidespelzen und Papierfaserschlamm. Für die Umweltbewertung wurde eine umfassende Primärdaten-Erhebung durchgeführt. Die Bewertung der umweltrelevanten Auswirkungen erfolgte mittels Methode der Ökobilanzierung nach der europäischen Norm EN ISO 14040 ff (Umweltmanagement Ökobilanz – Grundsätze und Rahmenbedingungen, 2006). Aus den Ergebnissen der Umweltbewertung sollten einerseits Optimierungspotentiale erkannt und andererseits die Vor- und Nachteile einzelner Inputmaterialien abgeleitet werden. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich durch die Herstellung von Pflanzenkohle eine positive reduzierende Wirkung auf den Treibhauseffekt ergibt. So konnten beim untersuchten Herstellungsverfahren insgesamt 1,1 kg CO2-Äquivalente pro hergestelltem Kilogramm Trockenmasse Pflanzenkohle eingespart werden. Producing biochar from biowaste as a potential new waste treatment method, as well as its importance in the context of soil substrate production (or as a soil amendment) and as an option for carbon binding in soils, has only recently attracted attention in Austria. Biochar is industrially produced, e.g. by means of pyrolysis, with the first industrial production facilities having commenced operations in the last few years. With regard to these comparatively new technologies, in most cases the environmental impacts still need to be investigated and the production methods carefully evaluated. In Austria, one pilot facility for biochar production is currently in operation. Investigations and analyses conducted during the pilot phase made it possible to prepare the first comprehensive assessment of the potential environmentally relevant impacts in connection with the production of biochar from diverse biogenic waste flows. The input material used at the pilot facility primarily consists of grain husks and paper fiber sludge. For the purposes of the environmental assessment, a comprehensive analysis of primary data was conducted. Environmentally relevant impacts were evaluated on the basis of lifecycle assessment methods in accordance with the European norm EN ISO 14040 ff (Umweltmanagement Ökobilanz – Grundsätze und Rahmenbedingungen, 2006). The results of the assessment are intended to help identify optimization potentials on the one hand, and to determine the respective advantages and disadvantages of specific types of input material on the other. The results show that biochar production yields a positive reductive effect on the greenhouse effect: in the production method reviewed here, a total of 1.1 kg CO2 equivalent could be saved per kilogram (dry weight) of biochar produced.

ACS Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Marko Sitter; Andreas Pertl; Marion Huber-Humer. Umweltauswirkungen der pyrolytischen Verkohlung. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 2015, 67, 369 -376.

AMA Style

Gudrun Obersteiner, Marko Sitter, Andreas Pertl, Marion Huber-Humer. Umweltauswirkungen der pyrolytischen Verkohlung. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft. 2015; 67 (9-10):369-376.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Marko Sitter; Andreas Pertl; Marion Huber-Humer. 2015. "Umweltauswirkungen der pyrolytischen Verkohlung." Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 67, no. 9-10: 369-376.

Journal article
Published: 05 November 2014 in Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft
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Abfallvermeidung hat die höchste Priorität innerhalb der österreichischen und europäischen Abfallgesetzgebung. Trotzdem haben es bisherige Initiativen zur Abfallvermeidung nicht geschafft, das Abfallaufkommen signifikant zu verringern. Im Rahmen des Projektes ZeroWin, gefördert durch das Europäische Rahmenprogramm (FP7), wurde versucht, basierend auf einem neuen Produktionsmodell durch optimalen Produkteinsatz sowie innovative Wiederverwendung von Abfällen bzw. Nebenprodukten das Abfallvermeidungspotenzial bestmöglich auszuschöpfen. Anhand von neun Fallstudien aus den Industriebereichen IKT (Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie), Photovoltaik, Bau und Automobil wurden Optimierungsmöglichkeiten getestet und deren Umwelteffekte analysiert. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die Ergebnisse dieses groß angelegten internationalen Projektes für zwei der Fallstudien näher erläutert.

ACS Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Andreas Pertl. Abfallvermeidung durch industrielle Symbiose. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 2014, 66, 417 -423.

AMA Style

Gudrun Obersteiner, Andreas Pertl. Abfallvermeidung durch industrielle Symbiose. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft. 2014; 66 (11):417-423.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Andreas Pertl. 2014. "Abfallvermeidung durch industrielle Symbiose." Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 66, no. 11: 417-423.

Journal article
Published: 01 November 2014 in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management
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The automotive sector is facing the challenge to become more resource-efficient in the manufacture of cars and their components. One approach is to increase the share of recycled materials. This paper presents the results of a case study for the automotive sector of the EU-funded Zerowin project. A safety-relevant component of the braking system was selected for manufacture using a mechanically recycled composite plastic material (polyethylene terephthalate reinforced with short glass fibres). The case study demonstrated the interdependencies between material and component specification, component design, material properties and the production process: using recycled glass-fibre-reinforced plastics for a safety-relevant component is not just an issue of input substitution, it is an interplay of technological (product development, production process modification, recycling process), organisational (security of supply, network infrastructure) and economic (material cost savings versus adjustment costs, planning horizons) factors resulting from the input substitution of primary material and changes of material properties. An industrial network was established and the case study's findings were transferred to serial mass production. Industrial networks are seen as an appropriate tool for securing the supply and quality of recyclates from traceable sources. The automotive sector is facing the challenge to become more resource-efficient in the manufacture of cars and their components. One approach is to increase the share of recycled materials. This paper presents the results of a case study for the automotive sector of the EU-funded Zerowin project. A safety-relevant component of the braking system was selected for manufacture using a mechanically recycled composite plastic material (polyethylene terephthalate reinforced with short glass fibres). The case study demonstrated the interdependencies between material and component specification, component design, material properties and the production process: using recycled glass-fibre-reinforced plastics for a safety-relevant component is not just an issue of input substitution, it is an interplay of technological (product development, production process modification, recycling process), organisational (security of supply, network infrastructure) and economic (material cost savings versus adjustment costs, planning horizons) factors resulting from the input substitution of primary material and changes of material properties. An industrial network was established and the case study's findings were transferred to serial mass production. Industrial networks are seen as an appropriate tool for securing the supply and quality of recyclates from traceable sources.

ACS Style

Max Regenfelder; Jürgen Faller; Stefan Dully; Harald Perthes; Ian Williams; Emilia Den Boer; Gudrun Obersteiner; Silvia Scherhaufer. Recycling glass-fibre-reinforced plastics in the automotive sector. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management 2014, 167, 169 -177.

AMA Style

Max Regenfelder, Jürgen Faller, Stefan Dully, Harald Perthes, Ian Williams, Emilia Den Boer, Gudrun Obersteiner, Silvia Scherhaufer. Recycling glass-fibre-reinforced plastics in the automotive sector. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management. 2014; 167 (4):169-177.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Max Regenfelder; Jürgen Faller; Stefan Dully; Harald Perthes; Ian Williams; Emilia Den Boer; Gudrun Obersteiner; Silvia Scherhaufer. 2014. "Recycling glass-fibre-reinforced plastics in the automotive sector." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management 167, no. 4: 169-177.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2014 in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management
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This paper presents the measures taken in the demonstration of the photovoltaic case study developed within the European project ‘Towards zero waste in industrial networks’ (Zerowin), integrating the D4R (Design for recycling, repair, refurbishment and reuse) criteria at both system and industrial network level. The demonstration is divided into three phases. The first phase concerns the development of a D4R photovoltaic concept, the second phase focused on the development of a specific component of photovoltaic systems and the third phase was the demonstration of the D4R design in two complete photovoltaic systems (grid-connected and stand-alone). This paper includes a description of the installed photovoltaic systems, including a brief summary at component level of the lithium ion battery system and the D4R power conditioning system developed for the pilot installations. Additionally, industrial symbioses within the network associated with the photovoltaic systems and the production model for the network are described. This paper presents the measures taken in the demonstration of the photovoltaic case study developed within the European project ‘Towards zero waste in industrial networks’ (Zerowin), integrating the D4R (Design for recycling, repair, refurbishment and reuse) criteria at both system and industrial network level. The demonstration is divided into three phases. The first phase concerns the development of a D4R photovoltaic concept, the second phase focused on the development of a specific component of photovoltaic systems and the third phase was the demonstration of the D4R design in two complete photovoltaic systems (grid-connected and stand-alone). This paper includes a description of the installed photovoltaic systems, including a brief summary at component level of the lithium ion battery system and the D4R power conditioning system developed for the pilot installations. Additionally, industrial symbioses within the network associated with the photovoltaic systems and the production model for the network are described.

ACS Style

Pol Arranz; Maria Anzizu; Alexandre Pineau; Max Marwede; Emilia Den Boer; Jan Den Boer; Jean-Michel Cocciantelli; Ian D. Williams; Gudrun Obersteiner; Silvia Scherhaufer; Xavier Vallvé. The development of a resource-efficient photovoltaic system. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management 2014, 167, 109 -122.

AMA Style

Pol Arranz, Maria Anzizu, Alexandre Pineau, Max Marwede, Emilia Den Boer, Jan Den Boer, Jean-Michel Cocciantelli, Ian D. Williams, Gudrun Obersteiner, Silvia Scherhaufer, Xavier Vallvé. The development of a resource-efficient photovoltaic system. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management. 2014; 167 (3):109-122.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pol Arranz; Maria Anzizu; Alexandre Pineau; Max Marwede; Emilia Den Boer; Jan Den Boer; Jean-Michel Cocciantelli; Ian D. Williams; Gudrun Obersteiner; Silvia Scherhaufer; Xavier Vallvé. 2014. "The development of a resource-efficient photovoltaic system." Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management 167, no. 3: 109-122.

Journal article
Published: 18 December 2012 in Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft
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Rapide Verstädterung, zunehmende Abfallmengen und Kommunen, denen es an finanziellen und personellen Ressourcen fehlt, sind die Rahmenbedingungen für die Abfallwirtschaft in Ländern mit geringem Einkommen. Die „formelle“ Abfallwirtschaft, repräsentiert durch nationale und regionale Stellen respektive private Unternehmen, ist hier nicht in der Lage, eine ausreichende Abfallsammlung und -behandlung für die Bevölkerung sicherzustellen. Oft werden Abfälle in Hinterhöfen verbrannt, in Straßengräben oder auf wilden Deponien abgelagert. Neben diesem überforderten formellen System existiert aber noch ein anderes, unsichtbares Parallelsystem mit sogenannten informellen AbfallsammlerInnen. Diese schließen die Lücke in der Abfallsammlung, -verarbeitung, -behandlung und -entsorgung in Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern. In den letzten Jahren sind informelle Aktivitäten in der Abfallwirtschaft vermehrt Thema im Rahmen von Projekten und in der Wissenschaft. Da im informellen Sektor per Definition keine Aufzeichnungen über die Tätigkeiten geführt werden, bleiben die Leistungen oft unerkannt und die Akteure unsichtbar. Es gilt jedoch zu bedenken, dass sich in verändernden (modernisierenden) abfallwirtschaftlichen Systemen Millionen von Menschen im Hintergrund befinden, die davon betroffen sein könnten. Daneben sind auch in Mitteleuropa derartige informelle Tätigkeiten nachzuweisen. Diese Aktivitäten bewegen sich im Gegensatz zu jenen in Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern aber vor dem Hintergrund funktionierender abfallwirtschaftlicher Systeme und geltender Rechtsgrundlagen. Rapid urbanization, increasing amounts of waste, and municipalities lacking in both financial and personal resources are characteristic of waste management in low-income countries. “Formal” waste management, represented by national and regional authorities and private companies, is not in a position to provide adequate waste collection and treatment for the local population. Burning waste in backyard fires or tossing it in roadside ditches or “wild dumps” are common practices. But in addition to the formal system, which is unable to cope with the current situation, there is a parallel and informal system that closes the gaps in the collection, processing, treatment and disposal of waste. Informal activities in waste management have become increasingly important in implementation projects and science in recent years. As informal workers are, by definition, not keeping records of their activities, their contribution is not recognized, and the workers remain invisible. The important contribution of the informal sector should not be underestimated, as a major share of waste recycling activities are carried out informally, providing secondary raw materials to local markets. In many cases the informal workers are not recognized as having a key role in waste management systems and run the risk of losing their livelihoods thanks to modernization processes. Informal sector activities take place not only in low-income countries but also in Central and Eastern European countries. However, these activities are carried out against the backdrop of a functioning waste management system and on a legal basis.

ACS Style

Roland Linzner; Andreas Pertl; Silvia Scherhaufer; Elisabeth Schmied; Gudrun Obersteiner. Parallelwelten – Informelle Arbeit in der Abfallwirtschaft. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 2012, 65, 34 -41.

AMA Style

Roland Linzner, Andreas Pertl, Silvia Scherhaufer, Elisabeth Schmied, Gudrun Obersteiner. Parallelwelten – Informelle Arbeit in der Abfallwirtschaft. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft. 2012; 65 (1-2):34-41.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roland Linzner; Andreas Pertl; Silvia Scherhaufer; Elisabeth Schmied; Gudrun Obersteiner. 2012. "Parallelwelten – Informelle Arbeit in der Abfallwirtschaft." Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 65, no. 1-2: 34-41.

Journal article
Published: 31 January 2010 in Waste Management
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One of the numerous applications of renewable energy is represented by the use of upgraded biogas where needed by feeding into the gas grid. The aim of the present study was to identify an upgrading scenario featuring minimum overall GHG emissions. The study was based on a life-cycle approach taking into account also GHG emissions resulting from plant cultivation to the process of energy conversion. For anaerobic digestion two substrates have been taken into account: (1) agricultural resources and (2) municipal organic waste. The study provides results for four different upgrading technologies including the BABIU (Bottom Ash for Biogas Upgrading) method. As the transport of bottom ash is a critical factor implicated in the BABIU-method, different transport distances and means of conveyance (lorry, train) have been considered. Furthermore, aspects including biogas compression and energy conversion in a combined heat and power plant were assessed. GHG emissions from a conventional energy supply system (natural gas) have been estimated as reference scenario. The main findings obtained underlined how the overall reduction of GHG emissions may be rather limited, for example for an agricultural context in which PSA-scenarios emit only 10% less greenhouse gases than the reference scenario. The BABIU-method constitutes an efficient upgrading method capable of attaining a high reduction of GHG emission by sequestration of CO2.

ACS Style

A. Pertl; P. Mostbauer; Gudrun Obersteiner. Climate balance of biogas upgrading systems. Waste Management 2010, 30, 92 -99.

AMA Style

A. Pertl, P. Mostbauer, Gudrun Obersteiner. Climate balance of biogas upgrading systems. Waste Management. 2010; 30 (1):92-99.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Pertl; P. Mostbauer; Gudrun Obersteiner. 2010. "Climate balance of biogas upgrading systems." Waste Management 30, no. 1: 92-99.

Journal article
Published: 31 December 2008 in Waste Management
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Waste prevention has been assigned the highest priority under European waste management law. However, the initiatives which have been taken so far have not reduced the regular annual increase in total waste arising across Europe. The purpose of this paper is to quantify and analyze in depth the prevention potential for selected case studies (advertising material, beverage packaging, diapers, food waste, waste from events). Only such measures are considered, which do not require a reduction of consumption. The prevention potentials for household waste in theory are exemplified for the city of Vienna, also with a view to barriers that may reduce the achievable prevention potential. The results show that the prevention potentials for the analyzed individual measures can reach an order of magnitude of some 10% of the relevant waste stream (e.g., advertising material, beverage packaging), or rather 1–3% of municipal solid waste. The prevention potentials appear to be relatively small in relation to the total municipal waste quantities. Methodological shortcomings, such as the missing availability of basic data, make it difficult to exactly estimate the impact of waste prevention measures on waste quantities, which is only one of the effects of waste prevention among other ecological, social and economic aspects.

ACS Style

Stefan Salhofer; Gudrun Obersteiner; Felicitas Schneider; Sandra Lebersorger. Potentials for the prevention of municipal solid waste. Waste Management 2008, 28, 245 -259.

AMA Style

Stefan Salhofer, Gudrun Obersteiner, Felicitas Schneider, Sandra Lebersorger. Potentials for the prevention of municipal solid waste. Waste Management. 2008; 28 (2):245-259.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stefan Salhofer; Gudrun Obersteiner; Felicitas Schneider; Sandra Lebersorger. 2008. "Potentials for the prevention of municipal solid waste." Waste Management 28, no. 2: 245-259.

Comparative study
Published: 31 December 2007 in Waste Management
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With the development of modern waste management systems in Western Europe, a remarkable increase in the distances for waste transportation has been observed. The question thus arises whether recycling with longer transport distances is ecologically advantageous or whether disposal without recycling is to be preferred. This situation was analysed using selected product and waste streams. This included refrigerators, paper, polyethylene films and expanded polystyrene. For each of these streams, a life cycle analysis was conducted with an emphasis on waste transport. The system boundaries were set in terms of the generation of waste to recycling or landfilling. The comparison included several scenarios with recycling and different transport distances. Landfilling was used as the reference scenario. The results obtained demonstrated how transport distances influence the ecological benefit of recycling. In the case of expanded polystyrene, the ecological boundaries are reached in practical situations, while with other materials these boundaries are far from being attained. In these cases, more complex and elaborate collection schemes, such as kerbside collection, which is economically convenient and shows the highest collection rates, can also be recommended.

ACS Style

Stefan Salhofer; Felicitas Schneider; Gudrun Obersteiner. The ecological relevance of transport in waste disposal systems in Western Europe. Waste Management 2007, 27, S47 -S57.

AMA Style

Stefan Salhofer, Felicitas Schneider, Gudrun Obersteiner. The ecological relevance of transport in waste disposal systems in Western Europe. Waste Management. 2007; 27 (8):S47-S57.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stefan Salhofer; Felicitas Schneider; Gudrun Obersteiner. 2007. "The ecological relevance of transport in waste disposal systems in Western Europe." Waste Management 27, no. 8: S47-S57.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2007 in Waste Management
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Landfills at various stages of development, depending on their age and location, can be found throughout Europe. The type of facilities goes from uncontrolled dumpsites to highly engineered facilities with leachate and gas management. In addition, some landfills are designed to receive untreated waste, while others can receive incineration residues (MSWI) or residues after mechanical biological treatment (MBT). Dimension, type and duration of the emissions from landfills depend on the quality of the disposed waste, the technical design, and the location of the landfill. Environmental impacts are produced by the leachate (heavy metals, organic loading), emissions into the air (CH(4), hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons) and from the energy or fuel requirements for the operation of the landfill (SO(2) and NO(x) from the production of electricity from fossil fuels). To include landfilling in an life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach entails several methodological questions (multi-input process, site-specific influence, time dependency). Additionally, no experiences are available with regard to mid-term behaviour (decades) for the relatively new types of landfill (MBT landfill, landfill for residues from MSWI). The present paper focuses on two main issues concerning modelling of landfills in LCA: Firstly, it is an acknowledged fact that emissions from landfills may prevail for a very long time, often thousands of years or longer. The choice of time frame in the LCA of landfilling may therefore clearly affect the results. Secondly, the reliability of results obtained through a life-cycle assessment depends on the availability and quality of Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data. Therefore the choice of the general approach, using multi-input inventory tool versus empirical results, may also influence the results. In this paper the different approaches concerning time horizon and LCI will be introduced and discussed. In the application of empirical results, the presence of data gaps may limit the inclusion of several impact categories and therefore affect the results obtained by the study. For this reason, every effort has been made to provide high-quality empirical LCI data for landfills in Central Europe.

ACS Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Erwin Binner; Peter Mostbauer; Stefan Salhofer. Landfill modelling in LCA – A contribution based on empirical data. Waste Management 2007, 27, S58 -S74.

AMA Style

Gudrun Obersteiner, Erwin Binner, Peter Mostbauer, Stefan Salhofer. Landfill modelling in LCA – A contribution based on empirical data. Waste Management. 2007; 27 (8):S58-S74.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gudrun Obersteiner; Erwin Binner; Peter Mostbauer; Stefan Salhofer. 2007. "Landfill modelling in LCA – A contribution based on empirical data." Waste Management 27, no. 8: S58-S74.