| Summary: | 碩士 === 朝陽科技大學 === 環境工程與管理系 === 104 === Every year, about 1.5 billion beverage cups are consumed by the chain beverage stores, the chain cafes, the chain convenience stores, and the chain fast food stores across the nation. The common beverage cups in the current market include the PP cup, the EPS cup, the PLA cup and paper cups. However, these disposable cups have resulted in a large quantity of thrown empty cups. There are many recycling channels in Taiwan, but not all containers are put into the recycling system as scheduled. According to relevant surveys, some achievements have been attained in terms of the PP containers; more efforts need to be made in respect of the EPS and paper containers; the PLA containers are not discussed in this study due to the lack of relevant data. The low recycling rate of the EPS cup led to the wave of ban on the cup. Within three years, the wave has swept across Taiwan. However, it is inevitable to seek the alternative materials after the ban. Whether the act will reduce the current impact on environment or cause more serious consequences is an issue worthy of deliberation. In this study, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was adopted to discuss the PP cup, the EPS cup and the paper cup. Aside from analyzing the impact of individual products on environment, this study made an overall assessment of the current recycling and simulated the scenario of the ban-related issues, with the hope of seeking environmentally-friendly products suitable for Taiwan, exploring the feasibility of the material substitution, and offering some reference for the decision makers.
The contribution rates of different materials in different paths were compared according to the results of the characteristic assessment, and it was found that (the incineration of) paper cups made the greatest contribution in terms of carcinogen, inhalable inorganic matters, the Ozone depletion, acidification/eutrophication, and the impact on land use and minerals; (the recycling of) EPS cups made the greatest contribution in terms of radioactive impact; (the incineration of) EPS cups caused the most serious results in terms of inhalable organic matters, climate change, and ecological intoxication; (the incineration of) PP cups made the greatest contribution to the impact on fossil fuels.
According to the results of the simulated current recycling, the EPS cup caused the most serious impact on environment and the most carbon emission. As for a higher recycling rate of the EPS cup, the number must be increased to at least 53% before the impact of the EPS cup on environment is similar to that of the paper cup. In terms of carbon emission, the recycling rate of the EPS cup must be increased to at least 71% before the carbon emission of the EPS cup is similar to that of the PP cup.
In this study, eight different simulated material scenarios were analyzed, and the results indicated the reduction in the impact on environment, especially in Scenario 6. Except Scenario 3 and Scenario 6, there was reduction in carbon emission in the remaining scenarios, especially in Scenario 8.
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