To be done correctly, assessments of the impacts of recycling on greenhouse gas emissions must, at a minimum, address impacts on
a) fossil fuel-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from manufacturing and along the value chain,
b) carbon sequestration in forests, products and landfills,
c) methane emissions from landfills,
d) avoided emissions associated with the burning used paper as biomass fuel, and
e) the likely alternatives to recycling for used paper.
The significance of these elements of the assessment will be very site-specific. In addition, some of the most important aspects of the assessment are very uncertain. It is, therefore, possible to calculate overall impacts of increased recycling on GHG emissions that range from highly beneficial to highly detrimental depending on site-specific circumstances and the assumptions used in the analysis.
How should I use this information?
Follow these links for more information:
Along the value chain
Carbon sequestration
Methane from landfills
Paper-derived fuels
Two U.S. studies
