Material flow indicators and carbon footprint for MSW management systems: Analysis and application at regional level, Cantabria, Spain

Abstract This paper analyses the use of indicators for tracking the progress over time (2005–2010) of the municipal solid waste (MSW) management targets in the region of Cantabria (Northern Spain). The combined use of a set of material flow indicators together with estimations of carbon footprint (CF) is suggested. The MSW generation, the treatment of MSW (recycling, composting, incineration and landfilling), the recycling rates of glass, paper and cardboard and packaging wastes, and the landfill of bio-waste have been used as individual indicators. The main characteristics of different CF models applied to MSW management system are highlighted. Four CF models that allow indirect emissions accounting and that use a wide range of aggregated emission factors have been applied to the Cantabria MSW management system. According to the studied set of indicators based on material flows, some of the regional objectives for recycling rates have been achieved by 2010. Besides, the CF values have improved significantly in savings (−179,527 t CO 2 e in 2005 to −310,566 t CO 2 e in 2010) or in neat loads (74,443 t CO 2 e in 2005 to 67,697 t CO 2 e in 2010), depending on the CF model used. The decrease is due mainly to the implementation of the incineration plant at 2007 and the starts up of the municipal sewage sludge drying facilities. Further improvements on the MSW management indicators and additional reductions in GHGs emissions can be achieved through application of the specific actions on the Cantabria Regional Waste Plans by 2014. The analysed material flow indicators together with the CF data obtained in the present work would be useful in the regional planning decisions on the MSW management issue.