Carbon emissions under different domestic waste treatment modes induced by garbage classification: Case study in pilot communities in Shanghai, China

Abstract The GHGs contributions (tally by carbon emissions) during treatment of domestic food waste and residual waste from pilot communities (contained 2365 families) in Shanghai, China, under different Modes induced by garbage classification were investigated. It was found that under the present condition of garbage classification in Shanghai, 51.8% of the food waste could be separated finally. With garbage classification, the load of landfill was saved by 17.3% (Mode 2) and 16.5% (Mode 3), the moisture of garbage for incineration was reduced by 13.6%, and the lower heating value (LHV) of garbage was increased by 16.2%. Applying the life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) with material flows, net carbon emissions during the treatment of garbage were found to be in the following order: Mode 3 (1.60 × 10−3 kg CE/kg waste)