マテリアル・エネルギー・リクワイアメント : リサイクルの効果

概要

論文の詳細を見る
The effect of recycling on material and energy requirements (mer) was examined. First, it was found that the lifetime mer (L-mer) for the loop of horizontal recycling was independent of mers associated with the extraction of resource and disposal of unneeded material. In the case examined, the merit of recycling rested upon the extended mer (E-mer) for recycling process being less than the sum of E-mers of mining, refining, and manufacturing. Secondly, the advantage of escalade recycling over cascade one was made clear in quantitative terms of different benefits. Thirdly, it was found that the mer that goes with the disposal increases with the number of recycles for a horizontal recycling. In case of a simple cascade/escalade recycling, on the contrary, no such an increase was found. For the cascade/escalade recycling, a multiple cascade/escalade scheme is necessary to become truly “recycling.” While a recycling and a prolonged life share many characteristics and are the same in terms of the mer in usage stage, a recycling further claims the mer in recycling stage. An application of the mer methodology to the evaluation of environmental effect of various products/services would have to take into account the insufficient availability of data and the very partial interest of our society in the global life support system. It is believed that the methodology has a potential to accommodate these realities.
生態工学会の論文
2003-07-31