WASTE: RECYCLING OR AVOIDING? ANSWERS FROM LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT STUDIES

Abstract

Avoid waste production brings far greater environmental benefits than any other management option, including recycling. However, the implementation of prevention activities is still hesitant: among companies and local authorities the choice of “end-of-pipe” actions prevails, although not leading to overall environmental improvement. Understanding real benefits related to waste prevention is essential to effectively support the change towards circular economy. Coherently with the Life Cycle Thinking approach, waste prevention measures can be implemented in several steps of products’ life cycle. In the last two decades, numerous Life Cycle Assessment studies have clarified the environmental profile associated with products and their end-of-life scenarios; however, scientific literature still seems more interested in exploiting recycling options than in demonstrating the convenience of prevention. The paper addresses the dilemma between waste prevention and recycling, through the analysis of recent scientific literature, finding some answers and raising new doubts.