Waste Indicators

Figure 5.3Total resource consumption associated with treatment of 1 tonne ofaluminium and production of substitute material for different wastetreatment options.IncinerationRecyclingEnergy-generatingmaterialsOther raw materialsLandfilling0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600mPR WDK19905.2.2 Energy factorsThe energy factor expresses how much net primary energy (see Glossary) isused for different treatments of the three waste fractions. The unit here ismPE DK98per 1,000 tonnes of material. Primary energy consumption inDenmark in 1998 was 160 GJ per person, and one mPE therefore equals 160MJ. Energy consumption as an indicator is particularly applicable as a totalmeasurement of environmental impacts from use of energy, and in contrast tothe resource factor, it weighs renewable and non-renewable resources againsteach other. Figures 5.4 to 5.6 therefore state which part of energyconsumption derives from renewable and which part derives from nonrenewableenergy resources.Virgin paper is primarily produced with renewable energy resources: woodand hydropower. Figure 5.4 shows that paper upon incineration substitutesnon-renewable energy resources. Stated in person-equivalents the result uponincineration of paper is a primary energy consumption in the form ofrenewable energy resources of over 100 mPE/tonne, which is slightly morethan upon recycling of paper.Thus, the calculation shows that despite energy recovery upon wasteincineration there is a benefit in terms of energy from paper recycling, eventhough this benefit should be compared to the larger consumption of nonrenewableenergy sources upon recycling. Energy consumption uponrecycling of paper, however, is in the range of 50% of energy consumption ofproduction of virgin paper.41