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Material Recycling and the Myth of Landfill Diversion

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  • Trevor Zink
  • Roland Geyer

Abstract

Proponents of material recycling typically point to two environmental benefits: disposal (landfill/incinerator) reduction and primary production displacement. However, in this paper we mathematically demonstrate that, without displacement, recycling can delay but not prevent any existing end‐of‐life material from reaching final disposal. The only way to reduce the amount of material ultimately landfilled or incinerated is to produce less in the first place; material that is not made needs not be disposed. Recycling has the potential to reduce the amount of material reaching end of life solely by reducing primary production. Therefore, the “dual benefits” of recycling are in fact one, and the environmental benefit of material recycling rests in its potential to displace primary production. However, displacement of primary production from increased recycling is driven by market forces and is not guaranteed. Improperly assuming all recycled material avoids disposal underestimates the environmental impacts of the product system. We show that the potential magnitude of this error is substantial, though for inert recyclables it is lower than the error introduced by improperly assuming all recycled material displaces primary material production. We argue that life cycle assessment end‐of‐life models need to be updated so as not to overstate the benefits of recycling. Furthermore, scholars and policy makers should focus on finding and implementing ways to increase the displacement potential of recyclable materials rather than focusing on disposal diversion targets.

Suggested Citation

  • Trevor Zink & Roland Geyer, 2019. "Material Recycling and the Myth of Landfill Diversion," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(3), pages 541-548, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:23:y:2019:i:3:p:541-548
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12808
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    Cited by:

    1. Pfadt-Trilling, Alyssa R. & Widyolar, Bennett K. & Jiang, Lun & Brinkley, Jordyn & Bhusal, Yogesh & Winston, Roland & Fortier, Marie-Odile P., 2023. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of low-temperature process heat generation by external compound parabolic concentrator (XCPC) solar thermal array," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 992-998.
    2. Elias W. Gabisa & Chavalit Ratanatamskul & Shabbir H. Gheewala, 2023. "Recycling of Plastics as a Strategy to Reduce Life Cycle GHG Emission, Microplastics and Resource Depletion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Agata Mesjasz-Lech & Pál Michelberger, 2019. "Sustainable Waste Logistics and the Development of Trade in Recyclable Raw Materials in Poland and Hungary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Andreas Fazekas & Christopher Bataille & Adrien Vogt-Schilb, 2022. "Achieving net-zero prosperity: how governments can unlock 15 essential transformations," Post-Print halshs-03742125, HAL.
    5. Thomas E. Graedel & Alessio Miatto, 2022. "Alloy Profusion, Spice Metals, and Resource Loss by Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-12, June.
    6. Josephine Herbert & Angela H. Beckett & Samuel C. Robson, 2022. "A Review of Cross-Disciplinary Approaches for the Identification of Novel Industrially Relevant Plastic-Degrading Enzymes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-25, November.
    7. Xavier Tanguay & Gatien Geraud Essoua Essoua & Ben Amor, 2021. "Attributional and consequential life cycle assessments in a circular economy with integration of a quality indicator: A case study of cascading wood products," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(6), pages 1462-1473, December.
    8. Carlos Pablo Sigüenza & Bernhard Steubing & Arnold Tukker & Glenn A. Aguilar‐Hernández, 2021. "The environmental and material implications of circular transitions: A diffusion and product‐life‐cycle‐based modeling framework," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(3), pages 563-579, June.
    9. Elena Rangoni Gargano & Alessia Cornella & Pasqualina Sacco, 2023. "Governance Model for a Territory Circularity Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.

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