Evaluating treatment pathways for managing packaging materials from construction of a solar photovoltaic power station

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1345-1357
Author(s):  
Turlough F Guerin
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Soil Improvement ◽  
Packaging Materials ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Treatment Pathways ◽  
End Use ◽  
Solar Electricity ◽  
Utility Scale

The reuse of end-of-life packaging materials (EOLPM) on site represents, particularly for remote sites, an important contribution to sustainable business practice because it provides a higher value end use when used to develop on-site mulch to enable soil improvement, thereby reducing transport emissions (in relation to the least preferred option of off-site disposal to landfill), lowering costs and offering employment to local contractors. The objective of the study was to demonstrate a local application of the circular economy for EOLPM to a utility-scale solar electricity (USSE) construction site. Although the principles of the circular economy could not be applied fully at the site, it was possible to demonstrate that EOLPM can be reused on site for a higher value than off-site disposal would give. Given the common occurrence of these materials in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector, this represents an important step forward for the sector internationally. The study is the first of its type reported, and the methods used for characterization of the EOLPM included a range of organic and inorganic chemical analyses and phytotoxicity testing, which were followed by an environmental and financial cost-benefit analysis. The selected option of on-site reuse of the materials as a mulch had a global warming potential of 58 t CO2e compared with the business as usual option (transport to landfill) of 3145 t CO2e. The results also demonstrated the broader potential for using EOLPM from USSE sites for soil improvement at remote locations rather than transporting these materials off site for disposal or reuse.

scholarly journals Development of a Novel Helical-Ribbon Mixer Dryer for Conversion of Rural Slaughterhouse Wastes to an Organic Fertilizer and Implications in the Rural Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9455
Author(s):  
Ankita Bhowmik ◽  
Shantanu Bhunia ◽  
Anupam Debsarkar ◽  
Rambilash Mallick ◽  
Malancha Roy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Microbial Pathogens ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Helical Ribbon ◽  
Moisture Extraction ◽  
Breakeven Point

Organic wastes of rural slaughterhouses in developing countries comprise of blood and undigested rumen contents harboring infectious microbial pathogens and having impermissible BOD5 and COD values. Previously we demonstrated valorization of blood and rumen contents through drying and conversion to an efficacious organic fertilizer which was free from infectious pathogens and heavy metals. Here we describe fabrication of a novel helical-ribbon mixer dryer for transition from the current small-scale household cooking to equipment-driven sustainable production. Blood and rumen digesta mixed in a 3:1 ratio, having initial moisture of 85%, were dried at 90–110 °C for 3–4 h to attain 15.6% final moisture-containing organic fertilizer. Energy consumption and moisture extraction rate were 49.4 MJ per batch and 18.9 kg h−1 respectively. Using this method, small abattoir owners could emerge as multi-product producers to enhance earnings while farmers could source the fertilizer locally for organic farming. The two activities can be complementary to each other and become a sustainable circular economy model. We applied a spreadsheet-based model for calculation of cash flow, breakeven point and conducted financial cost–benefit analysis on the projected operation of the dryer. Fertilizer production parallel with the meat trade should be profitable for slaughterhouse owners and farmers apart from generating local employment opportunities.

scholarly journals The Redesigning of Tires and the Recycling Process to Maintain an Efficient Circular Economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Dobrotă ◽  
Gabriela Dobrotă ◽  
Tiberiu Dobrescu ◽  
Cristina Mohora
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Recycling Process ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Points Of View

The redesigning of tires is addressed from two points of view, namely the structure of the materials and the constructive shape of these products. The necessity for research is justified by the fact that even during the product design stage, there may be situations that can irreversibly affect the separation of product components (rubber and insertion), and because it is strictly necessary to achieve the reuse and recycling of waste components. The proposed redesign refers to the inscription of the types of materials that are present in each area on the lateral surface of the tire. Thus, the new redesign has positive effects both economically and socially. To highlight these, a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) has been applied and the net present value (NPV) as well as the internal rate of return (IRR) have been determined for the classic scenario and for the two proposed scenarios. Testing the financial sustainability of the proposed solution was done through sensitivity analysis. An analysis of the new tire design from the point of view of the circular economy was also presented. The results obtained have highlighted the effectiveness of the proposed solution from a technical, economic, social, and protection of the environment point of view.

scholarly journals Circular Economy in Construction and Demolition Waste Management in the Western Balkans: A Sustainability Assessment Framework

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 871
Author(s):  
Ana Nadazdi ◽  
Zorana Naunovic ◽  
Nenad Ivanisevic
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Construction And Demolition Waste ◽  
Good News ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Scenario Development ◽  
Demolition Waste

Population growth, consumerism and linear (take-make-dispose) economy models have been piling up waste for decades. The construction industry is also based primarily on linear economy models, but the good news is that most of the waste can be re-used or recycled. So far, numerous models for managing construction and demolition waste in a sustainable way have been developed, but only a few models have included circular economy approaches. The main objective of this study is to propose an integrated framework for the sustainability assessment of CDW management. Apart from the economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainability, this model also includes circular economy principles. The proposed framework is based on the integration of existing methods: bottom-up materials stock approximation; cost–benefit analysis for criteria calculation; and scenario and multi-criteria decision-making analysis for sustainability. It is suggested that the European average recovery rates should be used for future scenario development. With higher re-use and recycling rates, the potential for the circularity of the recovered waste grows. In an effort to increase circularity in the region, particular attention was devoted to customize the framework and examine its potential for use in the Western Balkan countries. The framework may also be useful in countries with immature construction and demolition waste management.

scholarly journals Circular economy in the brewing chain

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-69
Author(s):  
Alessio Cimini ◽  
Mauro Moresi
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Market Price ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Packaging Materials ◽  
Recycled Pet ◽  
Beer Consumption ◽  
Brewing Process ◽  
Definitive Solution ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Brewery Wastes

The main aim of this review was to check for the applicability of the concept of circular economy to brewing chain. By analyzing the beer brewing process, it was possible to identify the main brewery wastes formed and packaging materials used as well as their range of composition and yields. In order to reduce the contribution of packaging material to the carbon footprint of beer, it would be necessary to replace one-way containers used nowadays with lighter, reusable, or recycled ones. Even if the contribution of beer consumption phase was taken into account, there was no definitive solution about the less environmentally impacting beer packaging format. The direct management of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging for liquid foodstuffs could make available 100% recycled PET flakes to be reconverted into food-grade bottles with minimum downcycling to other non-food usage. The countless potential uses of brewery wastes in nutritional and biotechnological fields were tested in laboratory by disregarding any cost–benefit or market analysis. This was mainly because the estimated market price of dried brewer’s spent grain (BSG) resulted to be about 450% higher than that of conventional lignocellulose residues. All the alternative uses hailed in the literature appeared to be more useful for publishing articles than for defining any economically feasible reusing procedure for all brewery wastes. Owing to their high moisture content, such wastes are so perishable as to prevent their safe usage in the human food chain. Currently, their use as-is in animal feeding is the disposal method not only economically feasible but also able to reduce the greenhouse gas load of beer packed in glass bottles (GB) by about one-third of that associated with packaging materials. Not by chance, it is practiced by most industrial and craft breweries.

scholarly journals BUSINNES MODEL OF CORS-TR (TUSAGA-AKTIF)

2017 ◽  
Vol IV-4/W4 ◽  
pp. 109-116
Author(s):  
S. Bakici ◽  
B. Erkek ◽  
A. İlbey ◽  
E. Kulaksiz
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Control Center ◽  
Model Studies ◽  
Gnss Network ◽  
The Cost

CORS-TR (TUSAGA-Aktif (Turkish National Permanent GNSS Network – Active)), serves location information at cm level accuracy in Turkey and TR Northern Cyprus in few seconds, where adequate numbers of GNSS satellites are observed and communication possibilities are present. No ground control points and benchmarks are necessary. There are 146 permanent GNSS stations within the CORS-TR System. Station data are transferred online to the main control center located in the Mapping Department of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre. <br><br> CORS-TR System was established in 2008 and has been updated in software, hardware, communication and pricing areas from technical and administrative point of view in order to improve the system and provide better service to the users. Thus, the added value obtained from the CORS-TR System has been increased and contributed to the more efficient use of country resources. In this paper, how the technical, administrative and financial studies in the operation of the CORS-TR System were managed with a sustainable business model, studies for solving problems encountered in operating of the system, the cost / benefit analysis of the system and the sharing of experience gained from the perspective of how web-based applications are managed and the business model of the CORS-TR System are explained in detail.

scholarly journals Laboratory Validation of Integrated Lighting Systems Retrofit Performance and Energy Savings

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Shackelford ◽  
Paul Mathew ◽  
Cynthia Regnier ◽  
Travis Walter
Keyword(s):  
Energy Savings ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Light Emitting ◽  
Occupant Comfort ◽  
Advanced Controls ◽  
Lighting Systems ◽  
End Use

Light-emitting diodes (LED) fixtures and lamps have emerged as leading technologies for general illumination and are a well-established energy efficiency retrofit measure in commercial buildings (from around 2% of installed fixtures and lamps in 2013 to 28% by 2020). Retrofit approaches that integrate elements, such as networked controls, daylight dimming, and advanced shade technologies lag in comparison. Integrated retrofits have been shown to increase savings over single end-use retrofits, but are perceived as higher complexity and risk. More validation of integrated lighting system performance is needed. This study presents results from laboratory testing of three packages combining fixtures, networked controls, task tuning, and daylight dimming, advanced shades, and lighting layout changes. We characterize performance in perimeter open-office zones, finding energy savings from 20% for daylight dimming and automated shades (no LED retrofit) to over 70% for LED retrofits with advanced controls and shades or lighting layout changes. We present some implementation details, including lessons learned from installation and commissioning in the laboratory setting. We also discuss cost-benefit analysis approaches for the types of packages presented, including the need to quantify and incorporate energy and non-energy benefits for advanced shades packages, which enhance occupant comfort but add significant cost.

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