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Unraveling the Global Warming Mitigation Potential from Recycling Subway‐Related Excavated Soil and Rock in China Via Life Cycle Assessment
Author(s) -
Zhang Ning,
Zhang Hui,
Schiller Georg,
Feng Haibo,
Gao Xiaofeng,
Li Enming,
Li Xiujie
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
integrated environmental assessment and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1551-3793
pISSN - 1551-3777
DOI - 10.1002/ieam.4376
Subject(s) - life cycle assessment , greenhouse gas , china , work (physics) , global warming potential , environmental science , global warming , waste management , environmental engineering , brick , engineering , environmental protection , civil engineering , climate change , production (economics) , geography , mechanical engineering , ecology , macroeconomics , archaeology , economics , biology
Many cities across China are investing in subway projects, resulting in much subway construction activity, which has experienced a surge over the past decade. The construction activities inevitably cause a dramatic quantity of subway‐related excavated soil and rock (ESR). How to manage it with minimal environmental impact on our urban ecosystem remains an open question. The present study evaluates global warming potential (GWP, expressed by CO 2 eq) from different ESR recycling and landfilling scenarios via a life cycle assessment (LCA) model based on primary field investigation combined with the LCA software database. The study results illustrate that recycling ESR can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In comparison with traditional construction materials, the scenarios found that a cumulative amount of 1.1 to 1.5 million tonnes (Mt) of CO 2 eq emissions could have been mitigated by using ESR generated between 2010 and 2018 to produce baking‐free bricks and recycled baked brick. Using cost–benefit analysis, potential economic benefits from recycled sand and baking‐free bricks are found to reach US$9 million annually. The findings of this study could provide better recycling options for ESR‐related stakeholders. It is important to mention that there still is much work to be done before this recycling work can be popularized in China. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:639–650. © 2020 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)