
Thesis for Master of Engineering iv
Table of Contents
List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................................... viii
List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................................... ix
List of Equations .................................................................................................................................................. xiii
Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................................................... xiv
Shortened Forms: Abbreviations, Contractions, Acronyms, Initialisms and Symbols ........................................ xvi
Abstract................................................................................................................................................................... 1
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Rationale ............................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Goal and Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 4
1.5 Approach ............................................................................................................................................... 4
1.6 Scope of Thesis ..................................................................................................................................... 4
1.7 Thesis Layout ........................................................................................................................................ 6
2. Literature Review .......................................................................................................................................... 7
2.1 Waste Management Hierarchy .............................................................................................................. 7
2.2 Waste Management in Victoria ............................................................................................................. 8
Thermal Treatment in Victoria ....................................................................................................... 10
State Container Deposit Scheme & MSW in relation to Victoria ................................................... 11
Recyclate Recovery in Australia ..................................................................................................... 11
Virgin Competition ......................................................................................................................... 12
2.3 Waste Management Systems ............................................................................................................... 12
Landfill ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Incineration ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Gasification-Pyrolysis ..................................................................................................................... 14
2.4 Thermal Treatment in Australia .......................................................................................................... 16
2.5 Life Cycle Assessment ........................................................................................................................ 18
Background ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Attributional and Consequential Modelling .................................................................................... 20
Scenario Development .................................................................................................................... 20
System Boundaries ......................................................................................................................... 20
Allocation and Waste Burdens........................................................................................................ 20
Impact Assessments ........................................................................................................................ 21
Interpretation................................................................................................................................... 22
2.6 Waste Management LCA Research .................................................................................................... 23
Victoria ........................................................................................................................................... 23
International .................................................................................................................................... 26