A new approach for quantifying ecological sustainability in waste management by using the method of modelling

Abstract

Human activity has an ever-increasing impact on the environment. In order to understand all processes and interactions behind this change, one has to analyze the environmental impact. Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are one way to achieve this, which, however, are time-consuming and often associated with high costs, as well as the requirement of specialized knowledge and software. This paper introduces a model, which allows an initial assessment. The model enables a more pragmatic way and may be considered as a first step in order to implement ecological sustainability considerations into companies. Based on a real-world problem, namely the disposal of foundry dust, the model is explained in a vivid manner.