1. WRATE – The New LCA Tool for Waste Management
Tessa Bowering
Environment Officer (Waste)

2. What is WRATE? Waste and Resources Assessment Tool for the Environment
LCA software tool for comparing different systems for managing and processing Municipal Solid Waste
Allows you to assess/consider the environmental impact of all stages involved in managing and processing waste from collection through to disposal
Allows you to compare the environmental impact of the different options available at each stage of managing and processing waste to help make decisions when choosing waste management options
£1 million programme
Part funded by Defras Waste Implementation Programme
The EA and Golder Associates designed the software
Background data from the Ecoinvent Centre, the Swiss centre for Life Cycle Inventories

3. Life Cycle Assessment for Waste

4. Why WRATE?
Environmental impacts of waste operations are balanced against benefit of materials/energy replaced
Whole life cycle accounted for – capital, maintenance, operation, recycled materials etc.
Takes into account emissions to the environment from the whole system and any resources used
EA role to provide sound, objective and impartial advice to LAs on how much waste there is, where it comes from and what are the environmental impacts of managing it in different ways
Software not designed to rank waste management options
Decisions dependant on local circumstances and the relative importance that stakeholders attach to each environmental impact.
It can show which of the options being considered is preferable from the point of view of the amount of resources used to make that particular decision.

5. Why WRATE? (2)
Waste strategy 2007: WRATE recommended life cycle tool for
informing decisions on waste infrastructure options and;
estimating global warming emissions of local waste strategies

6. WRATE “user interface”
DRAG & DROP WASTE STREAM SELECTOR
Philosophy of software - simple on the outside, with detail available on the inside
The most common work area used in WRATE is the waste management map indicated
To the left of the screen is the waste management selector used to select the different types of municipal waste streams or the different types of waste management process
In order to place an icon on the map, click and drag the icon
DRAG & DROP WM PROCESS SELECTOR

7. Processes in WRATE Containers (34) sacks, bins, recycling banks
Transport (26) RCV, ship,train, car
Intermediate Facilities (14) Transfer Station, HWRC, Intermodal, MRF
Recycling processes (24) Ferrous, Glasphalt etc.
Treatment & Recovery - Incinerators (5), pyrolysers (3), gasifiers (2), cement kiln (1), composting (8), AD (4), MBT-Aerobic (6), MBT-AD (4), MBT-biodrying (4), autoclave (1), RDF production (2), Landfill (6)
Landfill (6) Clay Liner, Clay cap, etc.

9. Use the icons to describe municipal waste streams….

10. …then linked to bins/sacks and transport

11. ….next transfer stations etc. and subsequent treatment/recycling

12. ….and finally, any residues from treatment or recycling

13. An example of completed scenario
The screenshot above shows that each of the MSW and Non-MSW waste streams were modelled from their first collection point through to final treatment
Approximately 17 different scenarios were modelled for each planning region

14. In this graph we are looking at the first level of results WRATE produces,
Above we are comparing the impact [burden] placed on the environment by two waste management systems treating residual waste
A Landfill scenario on the left and an Incineration scenario on the right.
You can see that in additional to a carbon footprint, WRATE produces 5 other environmental footprints:
Air acidification, Water toxicity, Acidification, Nutrient pollution of waters and Human toxicity
For global warming potential, the Landfill scenario is showing a large overall carbon footprint, probably due to uncaptured methane emissions.
The incineration scenario is showing a net avoided footprint, where in effect the environmental cost of operating the incinerator have been overcome by any life cycle saving caused by producing energy for the grid and recycling metals from the ash.

15. This graph shows the source of the carbon footprint by life cycle stage.
In WRATE, much more detailed analytical functions are available to establish the source of impacts such as the carbon hotspots in systems so these can be understood and potentially reduced.

16. Where is WRATE likely to be used?
municipal waste strategies and plans
Assessing who offers the best environmental service when letting contracts
improving waste collection systems
Improving treatment processes
training and communication tool
carbon target setting

17. How much does it cost?
Demonstration: FREE. To register an interest The user manual will also be made available. The demonstration version allows you to explore the various input fields, run the model and view the type of results that WRATE generates.
WRATE is sold as a single installation licence. It is not suitable for network distribution to multiple users.
Standard version (for waste managers): £1500 licence fee in year 1, £1400 in year 2
Expert version (allows access to background data): £5950 licence fee for year1, £5150 in year 2
Training: £350 standard training and £450 for expert licence holders who have already attended the standard training.
Training can be booked through the NCCC on