Domestic waste

The data incorporates CO₂ emissions associated with treating and transporting of waste as well as the emissions which are potentially mitigated where future resource and energy consumption is reduced (e.g. recycling). Depending on the disposal method selected, therefore, the disposal of some waste types results in a negative value for CO₂ emissions within Discover - these values represent CO₂ emissions saved. All data represents the aggregate global warming effect of six greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH4, N2O, PFC's, HFC's, CFC's) expressed as CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e).

To use this category select the type of waste using drill downs, then enter the quantity of waste and a disposal method. If no disposal method is entered Discover will return a value associated with landfill disposal.

Disposal methods should be selected and entered as follows:

• landfill: this calculates the CO₂e emissions associated with the disposal of waste in landfill sites.

• recycling: this calculates the net CO₂e emitted in the recycling of waste material (including potential emissions savings where future production is mitigated).

• thermal: this calculates the CO₂e emitted in the combustion of waste products.

• embodied: these data represent the total CO₂e emissions which are embodied within specific waste materials. These values therefore reflect the unit CO₂ emissions of future production for a given material and can be considered to represent the CO₂ emissions which are saved by choosing not to dispose of a particular waste product.