Ecological modelling of waste management based on sustainability indicators

A correct waste management is one of the main aspects of an environmental p olicy. Sustainability indicators represent a tool that makes it possible fo r the policy maker to evaluate alternative scenarios on a scientific basis, both on a, local and a national level. In this paper we propose the use of the indicators based on the energy concept for the assessment of waste man agement in the local government of Modena. From this study we can conclude that waste represents an enormous amount of energy, that is, of past work o f the biosphere and thus it has to be used as a resource. In emergy terms, investment in the collection of waste is negligible. The; most sustainable collection in Modena is that of bulky objects, glass, paper and materials f or compost. Modena's incinerator shows good efficiency in yielding electric ity and a good control of emissions. In the future it will be important to reduce the total amount of waste to be burned, in order to maintain low emi ssions of CO2.