Kağıt ve plastik atıkların pirolizinde yaşam döngüsü değerlendirmesi

Rapid economic development and industrialization, coupled with a growing global population, have led to an unprecedented surge in waste generation, threatening both environmental and human health. Conventional waste management techniques struggle to process cellulose- and polymer-based composite label wastes due to their intricate structures in recycling operations. However, pyrolysis—a thermochemical process—can convert such non-recyclable wastes into energy and valuable chemical products, aligning with the principles of the circular economy. Cellulose, predominantly carbon, plays a critical role in biofuel production, while polymers, such as polyolefins and polystyrene, yield high-calorific-value products like hydrocarbon oils and syngas. These outputs, including syngas, LNG, and pyrolytic oil serve as carbon-neutral energy alternatives to fossil fuels, enhancing energy security and sustainability in industrial applications. This study evaluates the pyrolysis of label waste (85% cellulose and 15% polymers) using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Leveraging experimental data from ITU Synthetic Fuels and Chemicals Technology Center (ITU-SENTEK), alongside market research and literature, the environmental performance of pyrolysis was compared with incineration in two scenarios. The findings revealed elevated Marine Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential in the current scenario due to high electricity consumption, whereas the alternative scenario showed increased Global Warming Potential due to surplus CO₂ emissions from gas engines. Despite these challenges, pyrolysis presents a sustainable solution for energy recovery from label waste, contributing to waste management policies and the transition to a circular economy. These insights underscore its potential to promote sustainability and reduce reliance on fossil fuels in line with circular economy.