Modelling waste process and output in openLCA with ecoinvent 3.6

Question

Hello together,
I have only recently joined the openLCA community and I have a question about waste modelling. Specifically, I am modelling a printing process that generates paper waste. Now I want to recycle or dispose of the paper waste in different ways. So x% will be recycled, x% will be incinerated and x% will go into the trash. I have already read some posts about waste management in openLCA in combination with ecoinvent, but I am still a bit unsure.

Many thanks in advance and best regards

Comments

Hello everybody,
I tried to get further with the help of https://ask.openlca.org/1761/how-does-waste-treatment-end-life-eol-modelling-work-openlca and the manual, but unfortunately it did not help much.

I have made the following considerations:
- Since I work with ecoinvent I have to use the ODA approach.
- In the example for plastic bottles a flow "waste incineration..." is used. However, I am not sure which flow applies in the case of paper, or I cannot find a corresponding flow. I have tried "waste newspaper" but it does not seem to be the right flow for me.  
- Or do I have to generate my own process?

I understand the basic logic of the plastic bottles but the transfer to the paper/print case is a bit difficult. If someone could help me with this, that would be great!

Thanks a lot!

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Hello @Nokra13,

I am also a LCA learner.
From what I read in the manual provided by openLCA 'ecoinvent_3_7_in_openLCA', it said that starting from ecoinvent 3.6., ecoinvent had introduced the possibility to use material flow logic approach for end-of-life modelling. (ODA is still applicable, but just they provide a more intuitive option - the MRL approach)
I would like to know did you know this?

And did you manage to figure out your doubts?
So far, I didn't see a clear-enough guidance on how to do the proper waste management based on this new possibility.
I would like to also follow up on this question as I am working on similar waste management in my model.
Thanks a lot!

Best,
CD.F