0ce9ff2a-74de-4003-be0f-a44d6058851fOpen windrow composting (finished compost)Open windrow composting plant, without collection and transport of waste but including the production of good quality compostilisation of compostsingle route, at plantnoneEnd-of-life treatmentLandfillingThe modelled open windrow composting plant is defined based on the treatment of average biodegradable waste consisting of biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste (It does not include forestry or agricultural residues, manure, sewage sludge, or other biodegradable waste such as natural textiles, paper or processed wood).
The used model and the used settings allows to attribute the environmental burden (emissions and also resource consumption of auxiliaries and energy) as well as the credits for compost utilisation according to a specific input composition (defined via dry matter, C:N ratio and material composition). Default values for the average biodegradable waste are used in the specific model.
Therefore the LCI data is valid for the open windrow composting of average biodegradable waste The following technology description explains the settings and technology of the average open windrow composting plant used to generate the LCI data set. The data set covers all relevant process steps for the composting and corresponding processes, such as pre-treatment, post-treatment and sieving ending with the production of good quality compost (ready to use). The inventory is mainly based on extended literature dat as well as laboratory analysis and industry data. The system is partly terminated (open inputs electricity, fuel).0The data set represents the treatment of biodegradable waste in open windrow composting plants. The assumptions concerning waste composition or rotting process are based on Central European conditions. Data are valid at least for Germany, Austria and SwitzerlandThe data set represents the open windrow composting of an average mixture of biodegradable waste consisting of biodegradable garden and park waste as well as food and kitchen waste with a content of 35 % Dry matter and a C:N ratio of 26.8. The composition of the biowaste was defined based on Literatur.
Windrow composting is the production of compost by piling organic matter or biodegradable waste, in long rows (windrows). These rows are generally turned to improve porosity and oxygen content, mix in or remove moisture, and redistribute cooler and hotter portions of the pile with te help of wheel loaders or turning devices. No collection of waste air is foreseen for this composting method.
Environmental impacts for waste collection and transport of the waste are not included in the data set.
The process starts with the pre-treatment a process step used for the adjustment and optimization of the input substrate (=rotting feedstock) before the rotting process. It can be described as a mixing process of available input materials (e.g. green waste, garden waste, structure materials, sieving rest, water,…).
For the composting model the process of pre-treatment determines purpose of the entire model which can also be seen as the functional unit: Composting of x kg biowaste. Basic input flow is biowaste from Austria.
IMPORTANT for the application of this process routines is to control the process relevant parameters for the rotting process which are:
• C/N ratio = should be between 20 and 40
• DM_in_ro = should be between 25 and 50 percent
Rotting is the core process of the composting model. The rotting process is an aerobic biological degradation and alteration process influencing nearly solely the organic compounds of the rotting feedstock.
Inputs for the rotting process is rotting feedstock from pre-treatment as well as energy and fuels: Electricity and fuel (for wheel loader) is needed through the entire composing process (pre-treatment, rotting and post-treatment). Default values for power and diesel consumption are literature
The used degradation rate in the compost modell is 60 % for carbon and 50% for nitrogen. Leachate is collected and used for irrigation of windrow piles. Screenings are used again as bulking material.
Emissions from the composting process are based on Literature.
The following emissions factors are applied: CH4: 1000 g/ t waste input; N2O 110 g/t waste input, NH3 470 g/waste input and NMVOC 370 g/t waste input. Specific emission factors were defined based on C and N degradation rate.
Emissions containing these substances have been allocated to the specific waste input. This is done by calculation factors. These factors determine e.g. how much of C is emitted as CH4.
N emissions not emitted as N2O or NH3 are assumed to be N2 emissions with no further environmental relevance. Therewith N2 emissions are neglected. Calculation factors have been applied for: CH4, NMVOC, NH3, N2O. These factors include the information from different composting technologies
Post-treatment is necessary to enable defined compost quality. It can be described as a sieving process.
Output fractions are compost, sieving rest and impurities (not applied for this process). Mass substances are divided between compost and sieving rest. Sieving rest is mixed as input in the rotting processTruck, Euro 4, 20 - 26t gross weight / 17.3t payload capacityElectricity grid mixDiesel mix at refineryWood (natural) in waste incineration plantProcess steam from hard coal 95%Ammonia liquid (NH3) with CO2 recovery, by-product carbon dioxide (economic allocation)Potassium chloride (KCl/MOP, 60% K2O)Standard end-of-life treatment service for specific waste via composting.flow diagramm open windrowe level 1.jpgThe model is built for the described technology and verified with measured data from several Austrian composting plants and further literature data.
The C:N ratio of the input as well as the dry matter is calculated based on the specification of the input. The material flow in the plant is calculated using individual transfer coefficients for every element and stage of the plant.
For the input specification in the model the following elements and compounds are addressed: Al, As, C (fossil, biogenic, inorganic), Ca, Cl, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, H, H2O, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Ni, O, Pb, S, Si, Sn, V, Zn.
The modeled emissions to air during rotting are: NH3, CO2, CH4, N2O, NMVOC Al, As, (fossil, biogenic, inorganic), Cl, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, NO, Ni, O, Pb, S, Si, Sn, V, Zn. In addition sieving rest and impurities are modelled. The transfer of the elements and substances into the different mediums is done with transfer coefficients based on real plant data, literature and experts. Some of the elements respectively tracked substances leaving the system are input dependent. That means there is a stoichiometrical correlation between input and output. For other input the relations are depending on the used technology. The output of these substances are a function of the used technology and therefore independent of the specific input. Input dependent parameters are for example the input of C or N and metals and the emissions caused by these elements. The amount of sieving rest is also input dependent.LCI resultAttributionalnoneAllocation - net calorific valueAllocation - massDirect land use change: GHG emissions from direct LUC allocated to good/service for 20 years after the LUC occurs.
Carbon storage and delayed emissions: credits associated with temporary (carbon) storage or delayed emissions are not considered in the calculation of the Global Warming Potential impacts for the default impact categories.
Emissions off-setting: not included
Fossil and biogenic carbon emissions and removals: removals and emissions are modelled as follows: All GHG emissions from fossil fuels (including peat and limestone) are modelled consistently with the ILCD list of elementary flows. In the case that the emissions refer to the molecules CO2 and CH4, they are modelled as ‘carbon dioxide (fossil)’ and ‘methane (fossil)’. Biogenic uptake and emissions are modelled separately. For land use change, all carbon emissions and uptakes are inventoried separately for each of the elementary flows. Soil carbon accumulation (uptake) via improved agricultural management is excluded from the model.noneGaBi Modelling Principles 2007All elements available in the model as input parameters are specified for the biowaste and therefore included. Coverage of at least 95% of mass and energy of the input and output flows, and 98% of their environmental relevance (according to expert judgment)noneThe transfer coefficients for the elements (used to allocate the different elements and substances to the different mediums air, compost, soil) of the coomposting plant are determined based on real plant data and a comprehensive literature research. LCI modeling is fully consistent.nonenonenoneBoldrin A., Andersen J.K., Moller J., Chistensen T.H., Favoino E. (2009)Boldrin A., Neidel T.L., Damgaard A., Bhander G.S., Møller J., Christensen T.H. (2011)Knappe F., Vogt R., Lazar S., Höke S. (2012)Amlinger F., Peyr S., Cuhls C. (2008)Hanc A., Novak P., Dvorak M., Habart J., Svehla P. (2011)Ortner M., Müller W., Bockreis A. (2013)Neu95.0noneThe data set represents an end of-life inventory for the open windrow composting of a specific mixture of biodegradable wastes (food waste kitchen, garden waste..) in an average composting plant. The data set includes the emissions and resource consumption for the composting process. It should be considered that this data set is an approximation to reality. The used model of an average Austrian open windrow composting plant and the average composition of biowaste do not exist in reality and efficiencies, emission values, transfer coefficients and elementary composition will differ if a specific plant is used. This data set can be used for the composting of the mentioned and specified waste in the specified region.All relevant flows quantifiedBOKU2021-02-01T00:00:00.000ILCD format 1.1BOKU2021-02-01T00:00:00.00000.00.001Data set finalised; entirely publishedBOKUtrueOtherGaBi (source code, database including extension modules and single data sets, documentation) remains property of Sphera Solutions GmbH. Sphera Solutions GmbH delivers GaBi licenses comprising data storage medium and manual as ordered by the customer. The license guarantees the right of use for one installation of GaBi. Further installations using the same license are not permitted. Additional licenses are only valid if the licensee holds at least one main license. Licenses are not transferable and must only be used within the licensee's organisation. Data sets may be copied for internal use. The number of copies is restricted to the number of licenses of the software system GaBi the licensee owns. The right of use is exclusively valid for the licensee. All rights reserved.CompostOutput203.007461258215203.0074612582150.000Mixed primary / secondaryEstimatedvaluable