impacts of elementary and waste flows

Question

Hello,

I have modelled a system with various inputs & outputs in openLCA.

At the output side I have some elementary flows (emissions) and waste flows.

When I create and calculate the product system there is no impact contribution from these outputs. Why is that?

In my point of view there should result impacts, because “methane” leaving my process has an impact on the environment (for example “Climate Change”). Same thing for wastes like heavy metals.. Or not?

Thanks for any explanation.

Cornelia

Answer 1

Did you use an LCIA method? And if yes, does this method fit to your database? If yes, then for climate change, you will see an impact for methane, e.g.

Comments

Thanks!

I used openLCA 1.10.3, the EF database, applicating the Environmental Footprint (Mid-point indicator). There should not be a problem with this combination, no?!
I see an impact for methane in climate change, but just for input flows which have a provider assigned, but not for the elementary and waste flows on the output side.
What could be my problem?

In the extract of my EXCEL sheet, you can see that there is no contribution to impacts from methane (and all other elementary flows that I put on the output list separately). At the right side you can see those other elementary flows (from the input flows which have a provider assigned), yes have a value.

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One mistake mine I already corrected: the elementary flows didn’t have a connection to the ILCD method. Now I choose integrated ones and I can see the impacts they cause in the EXCEL sheet.
But I didn’t find waste flows connected to the ILCD method.
Do there exist waste flows (for example heavy metals, used oil, Hazardous waste) in the ILCD method?