Nogueda, D. I. (2013). Life cycle assessment of PET bottle recycling : a case study for Mexico [Master Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://resolver.obvsg.at/urn:nbn:at:at-ubtuw:1-62677
Mexico is the world's largest per capita consumer of bottled water and soft drinks; both of which are contained in PET bottles. The extensive use of PET bottles in Mexico has become a severe environmental problem due to the lack of proper governmental management and public awareness. Most PET bottles end up pilled in landfills around Mexico. The lack of recycled PET bottles represents not only a serious environmental and social problem, but also a missed business opportunity. Throughout the last decade, significant efforts have been made by the private sector in order to increase the collection and recycling rate of PET bottles; however, the results are still far from sufficient. Hence, this thesis has three main objectives. The first is to gain further knowledge about the LCA methodology. The second objective is to analyze the PET flows in Mexico, and finally, the third objective is to determine which parameters need to be considered so as to carry out an LCA for PET recycling in Mexico. A complete LCA is not performed due to the lack of available information; nevertheless, it does establish the system necessary to carry out a proper LCA. The results should provide useful information that can assist various stakeholders in the development of PET recycling programmes in Mexico that are economically advantageous, environmentally friendly, and socially accepted.