Zero waste by 2030: A system dynamics simulation tool for stakeholder involvement in Los Angeles' solid waste planning

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

7-2008

Publication Title

26th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society

Publisher

System Dynamics Society

Abstract

This paper describes a strategic level simulation model developed to help stakeholders understand the Los Angeles solid waste system. The model structure is based on a “recycling loop” incorporating five interconnected sectors: consumption, collection, processing, disposal, and production. The user interface includes eight strategic decision levers (product durability, waste in products and packaging, recycled content of products, product recyclability, consumption, consumer diversion rates, diversion processing capacity, alternative disposal capacity) and shows six output measures (waste sent to landfill, material diverted, diversion rate, relative greenhouse gas emissions, relative cost, and relative effort). Model analysis shows that maintaining the status quo erodes diversion rates, reducing upstream inputs to the waste stream (by reducing consumption, increasing product durability, increasing recycled content of products) yields the greatest improvements in waste reduction and lower greenhouse gas emissions, and that achieving desired changes with downstream levers requires using several levers in combination. The model also shows significant tradeoffs between reducing waste and the relative costs and effort required.

Keywords

California – Los Angeles; Consumption (Economics); Recycling (Waste; etc.); Refuse and refuse disposal – Costs; Resource management; Solid waste; Zero waste initiative

Disciplines

Environmental Policy | Environmental Sciences | Natural Resources and Conservation | Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation | Public Policy

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or use interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the article. Publisher copyright policy allows author to archive post-print (author’s final manuscript). When post-print is available or publisher policy changes, the article will be deposited


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