In Europe, waste managers and waste policy-makers are increasingly demanding tools that can offer them science-based arguments to support their decisions. New sophisticated and ever more refined tools and models are popping up regularly in today’s waste management world, a world which is getting more and more complex. It is difficult for non-expert stakeholders in this busy and rapidly changing setting to distinguish between rock-solid science, belief and conviction. Who and what should we believe? What is the right decision for our concrete waste management challenges? Why can’t experts just provide us with the right answers?

This booklet explains the use of two of the most popular decision support tools today: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA). Drawing from the Topic Centre’s expertise with these tools, this booklet explains the basic theory of the tools, the reasons for their apparent contradictions, possible pitfalls, and how to use the results in a critical and informed manner in the waste management sector.

Report: A quick guide to LCA & CBA in waste management  [PDF 1.07MB], Kort introduktion til på affaldsområdet [PDF 1.18MB]