scholarly journals Two Birds with One Stone: Bioplastics and Food Waste Anaerobic Co-Digestion

Environments ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Sarah Kakadellis ◽  
Po-Heng Lee ◽  
Zoe M. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Global Challenge

Following the BBC’s Blue Planet II nature documentary series on marine ecosystems, plastic packaging has come under public fire, with consumers demanding greener alternatives. The biodegradable properties of some bioplastics have offered a potential solution to the global challenge of plastic pollution, while enabling the capture of food waste through anaerobic digestion as a circular and energy-positive waste treatment strategy. However, despite their increasing popularity, currently bioplastics are being tested in environments that do not reflect real-life waste management scenarios. Bioplastics find their most useful, meaningful and environmentally-sound application in food packaging—why is there so little interest in addressing their anaerobic co-digestion with food waste? Here, we provide a set of recommendations to ensure future studies on bioplastic end-of-life are fit for purpose. This perspective makes the link between the environmental sustainability of bioplastics and the role of food waste anaerobic digestion as we move towards an integrated food–energy–water–waste nexus. It shines light on a novel outlook in the field of bioplastic waste management while uncovering the complexity of a successful path forward. Ultimately, this research strives to ensure that the promotion of bioplastics within a circular economy framework is supported across waste collection and treatment stages.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment of Bioplastics and Food Waste Disposal Methods

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6894
Author(s):  
Shakira R. Hobbs ◽  
Tyler M. Harris ◽  
William J. Barr ◽  
Amy E. Landis
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Anaerobic Digester ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Cumulative Energy ◽  
Cumulative Energy Demand

The environmental impacts of five waste management scenarios for polylactic acid (PLA)-based bioplastics and food waste were quantified using life cycle assessment. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the potential for a pretreatment process to accelerate the degradation of bioplastics and were modeled in two of the five scenarios assessed. The five scenarios analyzed in this study were: (1a) Anaerobic digestion (1b) Anaerobic digestion with pretreatment; (2a) Compost; (2a) Compost with pretreatment; (3) Landfill. Results suggested that food waste and pretreated bioplastics disposed of with an anaerobic digester offers life cycle and environmental net total benefits (environmental advantages/offsets) in several areas: ecotoxicity (−81.38 CTUe), eutrophication (0 kg N eq), cumulative energy demand (−1.79 MJ), global warming potential (0.19 kg CO2), and human health non-carcinogenic (−2.52 CTuh). Normalized results across all impact categories show that anaerobically digesting food waste and bioplastics offer the most offsets for ecotoxicity, eutrophication, cumulative energy demand and non-carcinogenic. Implications from this study can lead to nutrient and energy recovery from an anaerobic digester that can diversify the types of fertilizers and decrease landfill waste while decreasing dependency on non-renewable technologies. Thus, using anaerobic digestion to manage bioplastics and food waste should be further explored as a viable and sustainable solution for waste management.

scholarly journals Carbon Emissions and Energy Balance in the Design of a Sustainable Food Waste Network

2020 ◽  
Vol 02 (01) ◽  
pp. 63-77
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Food Material ◽  
Sustainable Food

In this paper, the food waste valorization alternatives are evaluated from a sustainability point of view. Using food waste characteristics as input data, we estimate the sustainable benefits such as energy utilization and GHG emission reduction for each potential food waste processing technique. Additionally, the sustainable benefits of reverse logistics of food waste are quantified based upon geographic distance and valorization characteristics. We formulate the food waste network framework as a strategic linear programming (LP) model that aims to minimize total food waste management costs while satisfying emissions and energy use constraints. Given the recent regulations of the commercial food material disposal ban, we test the efficiency of the proposed framework by designing a sustainable food waste treatment network for the state of Massachusetts. Results show that with a marginal increase in the treatment cost of food waste, the model has achieved zero net emissions, zero net energy use, and a competitive overall sustainability impact. Thus, by utilizing the food waste network model, policymakers can achieve the best sustainable strategies for food waste management. The paper contributes theoretically to the assessment of the food waste recovery alternatives by expanding the system boundary and presenting additional key performance measures of sustainability. Practically, this study provides case studies based on real-life data and generates multiple scenarios to better analyze the results and select the best recovery options from a sustainability perspective.

Anaerobic digestion as a sustainable solution for biosolids management by the Montreal Metropolitan Community

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Frigon ◽  
S.R. Guiot
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Municipal Solid Wastes ◽  
Methane Generation ◽  
Ghg Reduction ◽  
Waste Management Policy

The Quebec Waste Management Policy (1998–2008) is requesting that the municipalities prepare a waste management plan, including a global objective of 60% of these wastes to be diverted from landfill sites by reduction, re-usage, recycling and valorization. Around 5.8 million tons of wastes were generated on the territory of the Montreal Metropolitan Community in 2001 for a population of about 3.5 millions citizens. In this paper, we present different management scenarios in which anaerobic digestion was used as a valorization step, focusing on the energetic value of the methane produced and the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The four scenarios prepared cover the valorization of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes, green wastes and excess sludge and showed potential methane generation of 17–140 Mm3 with a GHG reduction of 62,000–500,000 tons of CO2-equivalents.

scholarly journals Nutrient Analysis of Food Waste from Ships’ Greywater in the Baltic Sea

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 2421
Author(s):  
Renate Kalnina ◽  
Ieva Demjanenko ◽  
Dzesika Gorbacenko ◽  
Valdis Priednieks ◽  
Janis Baronins
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Nutrient Analysis ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
The Impact

This case study presents the results of assessments of the potential risk of pollution by food waste in different applied shipping scenarios. A four-step model was used to analyse the applied procedures. The first step of the study involved the identification of possible strategies for on-board food waste management. In the second step, physicochemical tests of visually selected greywater detected high contents of nutrients (NTotal ≤ 238 mg·L−1 and PTotal ≤ 71 mg·L−1). Daily nutrient content (DNC) calculations of different food waste management scenarios allowed us to estimate the highest emission value from the discharge of greywater mixed with shredded food waste in the third step. In the final stage of the study, the results obtained made it possible to qualitatively assess the impact of DNC load on food waste management methods in the Baltic Sea environment. This study highlights the potential risk of polluting the Baltic Sea with nutrients and other contaminants in various scenarios, which will impact the marine recovery process. The presented research helps to outline waste management approaches for the reduction of these risks.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Pengelolaan Sampah di TPA Gunung Panggung Kabupaten Tuban, Jawa Timur

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-161
Author(s):  
Rahmah Arfiyah Ula ◽  
Agus Prasetya ◽  
Iman Haryanto
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Acidification Potential ◽  
Alternative Scenarios

ABSTRACT The primary municipal waste treatment in Tuban Regency, East Java, was landfilling, besides the small amount of the waste was turned to compost. Landfilling causes global warming, which leads to climate change due to CH4 emission. This environmental impact could be worst by the population growth that increases the amount of waste. This study aimed to evaluate the environmental impact on waste management in the Gunung Panggung landfill in Tuban Regency and its alternative scenarios using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Four scenarios were used in this study. They are one existing scenario and three alternative scenarios comprising landfilling, composting, and anaerobic digestion. The scope of this study includes waste transportation to waste treatment which is landfilling, composting, and anaerobic digestion (AD). The functional unit of this analysis is per ton per year of treated waste. Environmental impacts selected are global warming potential, acidification potential, and eutrophication potential. The existing waste management in Gunung Panggung landfill showed the higher global warming potential because of the emission of CO2 and cost for human health, which is 6.379.506,17 CO2 eq/year and 5,92 DALY, respectively. Scenario 3 (landfilling, composting, and AD; waste sortation 70%) showed a lower environmental impact than others, but improvements were still needed. Covering compost pile or controlling compost turning frequency was proposed for scenario 3 amendment. Keywords: environmental impact, landfill, life cycle assessment, waste management   ABSTRAK Landfill merupakan pengelolaan sampah utama di tempat pemrosesan akhir (TPA) Gunung Panggung Kabupaten Tuban. Selain landfill, pengomposan diterapkan untuk mengolah sebagian kecil sampahnya. Landfill menghasilkan gas metana yang menyebabkan pemanasan global dan memicu perubahan iklim. Pertambahan penduduk memperbanyak sampah yang perlu diolah di TPA dan dapat memperparah dampak lingkungan yang ditimbulkan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menilai dampak lingkungan dari pengelolaan sampah eksisting di TPA Gunung Panggung Kabupaten Tuban Jawa Timur beserta skenario alternatifnya menggunakan Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Terdapat satu skenario eksisting dan tiga skenario alternatif pengelolaan sampah yaitu landfilling, pengomposan, dan fermentasi anaerob (anaerobic digestion). Ruang lingkup studi meliputi pengangkutan sampah, pengelolaan sampah dengan cara pengomposan, Anaerobic Digestion (AD), dan landfill. Satuan fungsional yang digunakan yakni ton sampah yang diolah per tahun. Dampak lingkungan yang dipelajari di antaranya: pemanasan global, asidifikasi, dan eutrofikasi. Dampak lingkungan skenario eksisting menunjukkan nilai tertinggi terutama pada pemanasan global (6.379.506,17 CO2eq/tahun) dan kerugian pada kesehatan manusia (5,92 DALY). Skenario alternatif 3, yang meliputi pengelolaan secara landfill, pengomposan, dan AD menunjukkan dampak lingkungan yang kecil, namun memerlukan perbaikan. Perbaikan untuk skenario 3 yaitu dengan menambahkan penutup pada tumpukan kompos atau mengontrol frekuensi pembalikan kompos untuk mengurangi emisi NH3. Kata kunci: dampak lingkungan, life cycle assessment, pengelolaan sampah, tempat pemrosesan akhir

scholarly journals Modelling and Multi-Criteria Analysis of Anaerobic Digestion Process to Get Upgraded Methane from Bio-Residues in the City of Reykjavik

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Finger ◽  
Stepanovic ◽  
Llano
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Organic Waste ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Digestion Process ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Climate Action Plan ◽  
The City

Anaerobic digestion of urban organic wastes, farming slurries or sewage sludge is a common practice in waste treatment plants. In the city of Reykjavik, the organic waste fraction constituted by 60% of biomass and 40% of food waste will be transformed by the local waste company SORPA providing biofuel for up to 10% of the cars. Such measures belong to the 2018-2030 Climate Action Plan from the Icelandic Government.

Study on Solid-State Anaerobic Co-Digestion with Distiller’s Grains and Food Waste for Methane Production

2012 ◽  
Vol 485 ◽  
pp. 306-309
Author(s):  
Li Hong Wang ◽  
Qun Hui Wang ◽  
Wei Wei Cai
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Solid State ◽  
Synergistic Effect ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Kitchen Waste ◽  
Distiller's Grains

Solid-state anaerobic digestion (SSAD) of distiller’s grains (DG) and kitchen waste (KW) for biogas was investigated. Six DG to KW ratios of 10/1, 8/1, 6/1, 4/1, 1/0, and 0/1 was used. The results showed that in 48 digestion days the co-digestion with DG to KW ratio of 8:1 obtained the highest methane yield of 159.74mL/gTS, TS and VS reductions of 58.7% and 71.8%, hemicellulase, cellulose and lignin reductions of 46.7%, 45.4% and 4.0%. Compared to mono-digestions of DG or KW, co-digestion of DG and FW had a good synergistic effect. It indicated that SSAD of cellulosic-based waste and food waste could be one of the options for efficient biogas production and waste treatment

Life cycle assessment applied to waste management in Italy: A mini-review of characteristics and methodological perspectives for local assessment

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110179
Author(s):  
Daniela Camana ◽  
Sara Toniolo ◽  
Alessandro Manzardo ◽  
Mirco Piron ◽  
Antonio Scipioni
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Minimum Requirements

Life cycle assessment (LCA) and related tools are commonly used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of waste treatment scenarios. This manuscript presents a mini-review of studies published over the last 10 years in Italy and aims to investigate how life cycle thinking tools are applied to assess the environmental sustainability of local-level waste policies. Results reveal that different waste flows, technologies and policies have been investigated independently and in varying detail. Review suggests that boundary selection significantly affects LCA results; integration of different waste systems is therefore crucial to avoid spatial or temporal shifts of environmental impacts. Moreover, the description of methodological characteristics, limitations and transversal aspects of Italian waste management studies allows various stakeholders to assess the reliability of past and future research for waste policy planning and rebound effects prevention. This review also highlights the need to define minimum requirements of transparency and ease of reporting of the studies to private and public stakeholders. Finally, the paper investigates whether using both the organisational LCA and the life cycle sustainability approach for the overall waste management process may be useful to develop a standard method to address multi-functionalities and multiple sites.

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