Abstract

The article presents a framework for assessing integrated waste management opportunities adopting an economic life-cycle analysis approach. Results show that greening the waste management sector represents an opportunity for sustainable development. However, this will hardly occur without considering that waste exists and has to be dealt with, not necessarily with the «soft» solutions advocated by supporters of the «zero waste» strategy alone. Industrial management of waste must include either «soft» and «hard» techniques; landfill diversion, which is the real priority, can be achieved only if material recovery (direct and indirect) and energy recovery will be allied.