The significance of boundary conditions and assumptions in the environmental life cycle assessment of waste management strategies. An analytical review of existing studies

During 2005, a review of existing studies of the environmental aspects of waste management of a variety of material streams was conducted, financed by the UK Waste and Resources Action Programme, WRAP. The review comprised studies on paper and cardboard, plastics, steel, aluminium, glass, wood, and aggregates. It covered all published studies accessed through international journals and as private and public reports accessed through a large network of contacts to experts and institutions on environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), through national material and waste institutions, through internet searches, and through searches on specific homepages of national environmental protection agencies