URBAN PRUNING WASTE: CARBON FOOTPRINT ASSOCIATED WITH ENERGY GENERATION AND PROSPECTS FOR CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISMS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Modern society experiences a progressive transition towards less harmful environmental behavior to foster sustainability. This study evaluated the carbon footprint associated with three types of urban pruning waste disposal: sanitary landfill (usual destination), generation of electricity, and generation of heat. A study case was carried out in the municipality of João Pessoa, Northeast Brazil. The Life Cycle Assessment methodology was applied to the material and energy inputs associated with each urban pruning waste disposal scenario, and the impact evaluation method selected was IPCC 2013 GWP 100y, which expresses environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. From the analyses carried out herein, it was concluded that the current practice (sanitary landfilling) presented the highest carbon footprint within the studied scenarios. The best scenario was the utilization of urban pruning waste for the generation of electricity, which presented a negative carbon footprint (avoided emissions).