Waste Cost Avoidance Model Template

Prepared by:
EG&G (now called Lockheed)

Prepared for:
All Department of Energy Facilities

Application:
Financial analysis: ---
Environmental impact analysis: ---
Waste management/P2:
Environmental cost listing/database:
Cost estimation: ---
Alternative product/process comparison: ---

Framework for accounting for cost elements associated with each waste type and treatability group produced at a site. There is a fundamental basis that describes how costs were collected, that could possibly be applied to other sites and facilities as well.

Development/publication date and updates:
Published as part of a final report called "Avoidable Waste Management Cost" (INEL-94-0205) in January, 1995.

Public availability:
Available

Purpose and current use:
Provide basic information and guidelines on methods to calculate waste life-cycle costs. The objective was to support better decision-making concerning waste minimization, generation, facility upgrades, and process changes at DOE facilities.

Cost information:
The price of the report through OSTI is $36 (including shipping and handling).

Contents and system requirements:
Worksheets

Summary of methodology

This set of worksheets lists input and output costs to be estimated by the user. Work sheets are divided into waste types and treatability groups: high-level waste, transuranic waste, transuranic-mixed, low-level waste, low-level mixed waste, hazardous RCRA, hazardous non-RCRA, TSCA waste, sanitary waste, and other nonregulated wastes.

Life-cycle stages covered

Raw material acquisition ---
Manufacturing stage ---
Use/reuse/maintenance ---
Recycle/waste management

The method lists four life-cycle stages (the first tier) of waste management: generation, treatment, storage, and disposal. Each first tier stage is broken down into several inputs and outputs (second tier costs) as follows:

  • processing/manufacturing:
waste generation, characterization
  • packaging/transportation/storage:
packaging, lag storage at each life-cycle stage, in-process transportation, transportation from each life-cyclestage to the next, storage facility replacement costs, emplacement
  • waste management: treatment:
operating costs, materials, disposal facility replacement cost, handling cost, closure

Type of costs considered

Conventional
Potentially hidden
Contingent ---
External ---

The hidden costs include costs associated with the operation of a waste treatment facility, packaging, waste storage, etc. Costs associated with compliance, such as permitting costs, are not included.

Method of cost estimation

The template recommends using the most current (in this case, 1992) waste management costs or older cost data (1991 costs) if the information is deemed better.

Generation of financial indicators

Net present value (NPV) ---
Payback period ---
Internal rate of return (IRR) ---
Benefits cost ratio ---
Other ---

Attributes

This method is straight forward and simple to use. Transportation and lag storage between life-cycle stages is considered. There are worksheets for listing definitions and assumptions. The document on "Waste Life-cycle Cost: Generic Guidelines and Assumptions," is recommended as the guide to developing waste life-cycle costs. The fixed and variable costs are also defined in this document.

Limitations

External and contingent costs are not taken into account. Life-cycle costs are computed for the waste management stage of the life-cycle.

Basis for evaluation:
The information provided here is based on a profile of the tool presented in Weitz et al. (1994). Subsequent reviews were done by incorporating information obtained through telephone communications with Lockheed and INEL in May, 1995.

Contact information:
Available for government agencies and contractors through OSTI. The report will ultimately be sent to the NTIS library (order/accession number: DE-95008669, from where other parties may purchase it).

Lockheed Martin, Idaho Technologies
PO Box 1625, Idaho Falls,
ID 83415

Chris Ischay
208-526-4382

For purchase:

Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI)
615-576-8401

The report is also available at the INEL Technical Library (not for purchase):
208-526-5856

National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
800-553-6847
703-487-4660


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