WRATE (Waste and Resources Assessment Tool for the Environment) software compares the environmental impacts of different municipal waste management systems.
WRATE uses life cycle assessment to include the resources used, waste transportation and operation of a whole range of waste management processes with their environmental costs and benefits.
Users and applications
WRATE is designed so that waste managers can easily apply complex life cycle techniques to manage municipal waste more sustainably. The results are easy to understand and interpret for financial and political decision-makers and stakeholders.
Who WRATE is for
WRATE has been designed for waste managers in waste disposal, collection authorities, waste management companies and other waste services providers, including waste technology suppliers. It is also useful as a training tool for those interested in waste management and researchers students and other academics interested in waste management and life cycle assessment.
WRATE can be used to:
- assess options for waste collection and treatment
- provide objective information to council members, financial officers and public stakeholders in support of strategy options
- inform the formal appraisal of Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategies and, where considering matters such as technology options, municipal waste management local development plan documents
- enhance services by demonstrating environmental improvements for best value and environmental management systems
- evaluate tenders for municipal waste management contracts
- provide information to train people on available waste management processes
- support the development of local waste strategies and, where appropriate, evidence to planning examinations and inquiries
- identify potential environmental hotspots in new processes and optimise environmental performance
- evaluate service options including recovery options, treatments and collection schemes
- benchmark the environmental performance of new processes
- evaluate new waste technologies and assess the impact of modifications and changes to existing technologies.
