Solid recovered fuel (SRF) from non-recyclable waste obtained from source separation and mechanical treatments can replace carbon coke in cement plants, contributing to the carbon neutrality. A life cycle assessment (LCA) of the SRF production from non-recyclable and selected waste was conducted in an Italian mechanical treatment plant to estimate the potential environmental impacts per ton of SRF produced. The analysis would contribute to evaluate the benefits that can be obtained due to coke substitution in best- and worst-case scenarios. The avoided impacts achieved were assessed, together with an evaluation of the variables that can affect the environmental benefits: SRF biogenic carbon content (in percentage of paper and cardboard); transportation distances travelled from the treatment plant to the cement kiln; the renewable energy used in the mechanical facility. On average, about 35.6 kgCO-eq are generated by the SRF transportation and production phase. These impacts are greatly compensated by coke substitution, obtaining a net value of about −1.1 tCO-eq avoided per ton of SRF. On balance, the global warming potential due to SRF production and consumption ranges from about −542 kgCO-eq to about −1729 kgCO-eq. The research recommended the use of SRF to substitute coke in cement kilns also in low densely-populated areas to mitigate environmental impacts and achieve carbon neutrality at a global level.

中文翻译：

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固体回收燃料 (SRF) 的生产和消费何时能最大限度地提高环境效益？生命周期评估

从源头分离和机械处理中获得的不可回收废物中获得的固体回收燃料（SRF）可以替代水泥厂中的碳焦，有助于碳中和。在一家意大利机械处理厂对由不可回收和选定的废物生产的 SRF 进行了生命周期评估 (LCA)，以估计生产每吨 SRF 的潜在环境影响。该分析将有助于评估在最好和最坏情况下焦炭替代可以获得的好处。对所避免的影响进行了评估，同时还评估了可能影响环境效益的变量： SRF 生物碳含量（以纸张和纸板的百分比计）；从处理厂到水泥窑的运输距离；机械设施中使用的可再生能源。SRF 运输和生产阶段平均产生约 35.6 kgCO-eq。这些影响通过焦炭替代得到了极大的补偿，每吨 SRF 可以避免约 -1.1 tCO-eq 的净值。总而言之，SRF的生产和消费导致的全球变暖潜力范围为约-542 kgCO-eq至约-1729 kgCO-eq。该研究建议在人口低密度地区也使用SRF替代水泥窑中的焦炭，以减轻环境影响并在全球范围内实现碳中和。