Skip to main content

C-04 Waste classification

Written on .

Aspect C-04 Waste classification

Description		 How should output wastes be classified: as e.g. inert, non-hazardous, hazardous?
Related
Study Goal		 ☒ stand-alone LCA ☒ comparative assertion
Related
Study Phase		 ☒
Goal and scope definition		 ☐
Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI)		 ☐
Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA)		 ☐
Interpretation		 ☐
Reporting
Relevant for
New buildings
Existing buildings
Construction products
Screening LCA
Simplified LCA
Complete LCA

Provisions		 The model should reflect the real situation. The classification into three types – hazardous, non-hazardous and inert waste – should be performed according to article 4 of the Landfill Waste Directive 1999/31. This aspect is likely to be predefined in every national EPD programme scheme, and may be adopted within product LCA studies that are made within the same context.

Rules from
EN 15804 6.3.4.6 End-of-life stage
6.3.8 Developing product scenarios
7.2.5 Other environmental information describing different waste categories and output flows
7.3 Scenarios and additional technical information
7.3.4 End of life

Guidance

Current practice should be used for scenarios. Specific models for waste treatment may be relevant for particular materials, to take account of emissions, or of the amount of energy recovery. EN 15804 requires that the total amounts of inert, non-hazardous and hazardous waste, measured at the system boundary, be reported. All waste covered by the Waste Framework Directive should be classified within the European Waste Classification system, and it should be possible to report these figures.

8.1. Overview

Written on .

This chapter addresses aspects that are related to life cycle stage C. All the aspects of this chapter provide provisions, rules and guidance for the goal and scope definition and the inventory analysis steps according to [ISO 14040] and [ISO 14044]. The following list describes the aspects addressed in Module C.

8.  Aspects concerning Module C

Back to EeBGuide Guidance Document Part B: BUILDINGS

C-01 Demolition/deconstruction – screening and simplified LCA

Written on .

Aspect C-01 Demolition/deconstruction – screening and simplified LCA
Description
 The deconstruction and demolition stage involves quantification of the impact related to the end of life of the constructed system. For example, if it is a reinforced concrete building, deconstruction activity will consist mainly in separating the reinforcing steel from the concrete. During this operation, energy is consumed, and pollutants are emitted to the air. In this context, should the demolition and deconstruction stage be considered in the context of a screening or simplified LCA?

related study objective

 ☒ stand-alone LCA ☒ comparative assertion

related study phase

 ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
goal and scope definition inventory analysis (LCI) impact assessment (LCIA) interpretation reporting

relevant for
new buildings existing buildings construction products screening LCA simplified LCA complete LCA
Provisions The demolition and deconstruction aspects may be included for screening and simplified LCA. Generic data should be taken from LCA databases if available.
Rules from:
 EN 15978:

8.7.2 Scenarios for deconstruction – Module C1

EN 15804:

6.2.6 C1-C4 End-of-life stage information modules
Guidance
 Depending on the goal and scope of the study, this aspect may be neglected, owing to its minor relevance.The practitioner may use ratios based on the materials impact (e.g. 3% for GWP in the case of concrete) if the purpose of the assessment is to obtain a rough estimate of the end of life for specific impact categories.Very few LCA data are currently available in every national context. One option is to use existing generic LCA data on the impact of demolition and the deconstruction process (e.g. the impact of sorting the reinforcing steel from the concrete at the end of life of the building). Such generic LCA data can be found e.g. in the Ecoinvent database.

The practitioner should be aware that the data on demolition process may not be fully adapted to the context. Another option is to define generic data with stakeholders (collection of specific data).

C-02 Demolition/deconstruction – complete LCA

Written on .

Aspect C-02 Demolition/deconstruction – complete LCA
Description
 The deconstruction and demolition stage involves quantification of the impact related to the end of life of the constructed system. For example, if it is a reinforced concrete building, deconstruction activity will consist mainly in separating the reinforcing steel from the concrete. During this operation, energy is consumed, and pollutants are emitted to the air. In this context, should the demolition and deconstruction stage be considered in the context of a complete LCA?

related study objective

 ☒ stand-alone LCA ☒ comparative assertion

related study phase

 ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
goal and scope definition inventory analysis (LCI) impact assessment (LCIA) interpretation reporting

relevant for
new buildings existing buildings construction products screening LCA simplified LCA complete LCA
Provisions The demolition and deconstruction aspects should be included for a complete LCA. Generic or specific data should be taken from LCA databases or other relevant sources if available, unless they fall under cut-off rules.
Rules from:
 EN 15978:
8.7.2 Scenarios for deconstruction – Module C1

EN 15804:
6.2.6 C1-C4 End-of-life stage information modules
Guidance
 The practitioner should use detailed calculation (based on specific data) for a complete LCA. The energy, materials and related emissions of these processes should be included. However, very few LCA data are currently available in every national context. One option is to use existing generic LCA data on the impact of demolition and the deconstruction process (e.g. the impact of sorting the reinforcing steel from the concrete at the end of life of the building). Such generic LCA data can be found e.g. in the Ecoinvent database or in the Greenest Building, which provides indicative demolition energies for various building types (see exhibit 2). The practitioner should be aware that the data on demolition process may not be fully adapted to the context. Another option is to define generic data with stakeholders (collection of specific data). For most construction projects this aspect is likely to fall under the cut-off rules, and may be omitted.

8.3 Module C2

Written on .

No specific aspects are given for Module C2 for buildings, as it is likely to be predefined in building LCA studies, e.g. by the use of EoL generic processes and cradle-to-grave EPD, which have already taken this aspect into account.

Please refer to the two following aspects of the EeBGuide – Part A: PRODUCTS guidance document for further information, as well as the EN 15978 standard.

C-05 Transport of wastes to landfill, incineration and recycling facilities – screening and simplified LCA

Written on .

Aspect C-05 Transport of wastes to landfill, incineration and recycling facilities – screening and simplified LCA

Description		 The transportation distances are likely to be different, depending on the EoL scenarios. For example, whereas a landfill facility is likely to be found in every city, a recycling plant may be far away as, for example, only one exists in a country. In this context, how should representative distances according to different waste EoL routes be defined for screening and simplified LCA?
Related
Study Goal		 ☒ stand-alone LCA ☒ comparative assertion
Related
Study Phase		 ☒
Goal and scope definition		 ☐
Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI)		 ☐
Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA)		 ☐
Interpretation		 ☐
Reporting
Relevant for
New buildings
Existing buildings
Construction products
Screening LCA
Simplified LCA
Complete LCA

Provisions		 The transport of wastes or recycled products to EoL facilities remains optional for screening and simplified LCA, owing to the assumed minor relevance. This aspect is likely to be predefined, for example in generic LCA data for EoL processes or in each national EPD programme, and may be adopted within a given LCA study.

Rules from
EN 15804 6.3.4.6 End-of-life stage
6.3.8 Developing product scenarios
7.3 Scenarios and additional technical information
7.3.4 End of life

Guidance

For recycling and disposal routes, the distances will vary, depending on each national context. Transport distances for different waste types may also vary according to the number of treatment sites. For example, hazardous waste may have the longest transport distance, owing to the limited number of sites, whereas inert waste may have the shortest. (http://www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_infrastructure_maps.aspx or http://www.landfill-site.com/html/how_many_landfills.php) National waste management plans or waste infrastructure maps may help in identifying the locations of waste management sites. Data may be currently available for transport of waste between the demolition site and sorting plant: e.g. for the French context see the report from [ADEME 2003]. For example, current practice in generic databases or EPD programmes may take into account:

  • between 10 and 30 km for inert and non-hazardous wastes, as well as for incineration with energy recovery;
  • around 100 km for hazardous wastes.

For recycled products sent to a recycling facility it is likely that the distance will be higher because, to date, the number of recycling facilities is still low, leading to higher distances than for landfill facilities. As an average value, 250 km for trucks can be assumed. This figure may be revised if more accurate data are available in a national context, and if the EoL transport is found to be significant in the final results.

C-06 Transport of wastes to landfill, incineration and recycling facilities – complete LCA

Written on .

Aspect C-06 Transport of wastes to landfill, incineration and recycling facilities – complete LCA

Description		 The transportation distances are likely to be different, depending on the EoL scenarios. For example, whereas a landfill facility is likely to be found in every city, a recycling plant may be far away as, for example, only one exists in a country. In this context, how should representative distances according to different waste EoL routes be defined for complete LCA?
Related
Study Goal		 ☒ stand-alone LCA ☒ comparative assertion
Related
Study Phase		 ☒
Goal and scope definition		 ☐
Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI)		 ☐
Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA)		 ☐
Interpretation		 ☐
Reporting
Relevant for
New buildings
Existing buildings
Construction products
Screening LCA
Simplified LCA
Complete LCA

Provisions		 The transport of wastes or recycled products to EoL facilities should be included for complete LCA, even if maybe of assumed minor relevance. This aspect is likely to be predefined, for example in generic LCA data for EoL processes or in each national EPD programme, and may be adopted within a given LCA study.

Rules from
EN 15804 6.3.4.6 End-of-life stage
6.3.8 Developing product scenarios
7.3 Scenarios and additional technical information
7.3.4 End of life

Guidance

For recycling and disposal routes, the distances will vary, depending on each national context [SBA 2012]. Transport distances for different waste types may also vary according to the number of treatment sites. For example, hazardous waste may have the longest transport distance, owing to the limited number of sites, whereas inert waste may have the shortest (http://www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_infrastructure_maps.aspx or http://www.landfill-site.com/html/how_many_landfills.php). National waste management plans or waste infrastructure maps may help in identifying the locations of waste management sites. Data may be currently available for transport of waste between the demolition site and sorting plant: e.g. for the French context see the report from [ADEME 2003]. For example, current practice in generic databases or EPD programmes may take into account:

  • between 10 and 30 km for inert and non-hazardous wastes, as well as for incineration with energy recovery;
  • around 100 km for hazardous wastes.

For recycled products sent to a recycling facility it is likely that the distance will be higher because, to date, the number of recycling facilities is still low, leading to higher distances than for landfill facilities. As an average value, 250 km for trucks can be assumed. This figure may be revised if more accurate data are available in a national context, and if the EoL transport is found to be significant in the final results.