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Arosemena Polo JD, Toboso-Chavero S, Adhikari B, Villalba G. Closing the nutrient cycle in urban areas: The use of municipal solid waste in peri-urban and urban agriculture. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 183:220-231. [PMID: 38761486 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Cities face the challenges of supplying food and managing organic municipal solid waste (OMSW) sustainably amid increasing urbanization rates. Urban agriculture (UA) can help with this effort by producing local crops that are fertilized with nutrients recovered from compost generated from OMSW. This research aims to determine the potential of OMSW compost to supply the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) demand of UA and the environmental benefits of replacing mineral fertilizer from a life cycle perspective. The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) serves as the case study given its commitment to reuse biowaste according to the Revised Waste Framework Directive and to promote UA as a signing member of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact. Based on crop requirements and farmer surveys, we find that the annual NPK demands of the agricultural fields of the AMB that cover 5,500 ha and produce 70,000 tons of crops are approximately 769, 113, and 592 tons of NPK, respectively. Spatial material flow analysis and life cycle assessment were applied to found that the current waste management system can potentially substitute 8 % of the total NPK demanded by UA with compost, reduce the impacts by up to 39 % and yield savings in global warming of 130 %. The more ambitious future scenario of 2025 can potentially substitute 21 % of the total NPK demand and reduce environmental impacts up to 1,049 %, depending on the category considered. Avoiding processing of mixed OMSW, mineral fertilizer replacement and cogeneration of electricity from biogas are the major contributors to these environmental savings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan David Arosemena Polo
- Sostenipra Research Group (SGR 01412), Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA-UAB) (MDM-2015-0552), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Toboso-Chavero
- Sostenipra Research Group (SGR 01412), Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA-UAB) (MDM-2015-0552), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Integral Design and Management, Department of Materials, Mechanics, Management & Design, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Biraj Adhikari
- Practical Action Consulting Asia, 44600 Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Gara Villalba
- Sostenipra Research Group (SGR 01412), Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA-UAB) (MDM-2015-0552), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, XRB, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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Lu X, Zhou Y, Yao Y, Zhu W, Hong L, Zhu F, Li P, Wang W, Hong C. Evaluation of the effect of a novel substrate that is composed of landfill-mined-soil-like-fractions on plant growth and heavy metal accumulation. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 352:141336. [PMID: 38309599 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
In the pursuit of a safe, low-cost, and sustainable method for the reuse of landfill-mined-soil-like-fractions (LFMSFs), pot experiments were conducted using seven growth substrates consisting of LFMSFs, tea residue, and peat for the cultivation of Photinia × fraseri. Six of the substrates had 40 %:60 %, 60 %:40 %, and 80 %:20 % volume ratios of LFMSFs to tea residue or peat, and one substrate consisted entirely of LFMSFs. The physicochemical properties of the substrate, growth parameters of the plants, and heavy metal content in the different pots were determined after one year of growth. The results indicated that the physicochemical properties of the substrate, that was composed of a mixture of LFMSFs and tea residue showed a significant improvement in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, there was also an increase in the salt and heavy metal contents when compared with those of peat. The plant growth in the LFMSF and tea residue substrate was slightly lower than that in the LFMSF and peat mixture. Notably, the best plant growth and environmentally friendly effects were observed when LFMSFs were added at 40 %. Additionally, most of the heavy metals were primarily removed from the substrate through the leaves of the seedlings, with the heavy metal contents being relatively low. In conclusion, LFMSFs as a cultivation substrate, represent a practical approach for reutilization, which could contribute to the reduction of reliance on traditional resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Lu
- School of Chemistry and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310016, China; Institute of Environmental Resources and Soil Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - Yanlai Yao
- Institute of Environmental Resources and Soil Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Weijing Zhu
- Institute of Environmental Resources and Soil Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Leidong Hong
- Institute of Environmental Resources and Soil Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Fengxiang Zhu
- Institute of Environmental Resources and Soil Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Penghao Li
- Institute of Environmental Resources and Soil Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Weiping Wang
- Institute of Environmental Resources and Soil Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Chunlai Hong
- Institute of Environmental Resources and Soil Fertilizers, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China.
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Arcas-Pilz V, Gabarrell X, Orsini F, Villalba G. Literature review on the potential of urban waste for the fertilization of urban agriculture: A closer look at the metropolitan area of Barcelona. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167193. [PMID: 37741375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Urban agriculture (UA) activities are increasing in popularity and importance due to greater food demands and reductions in agricultural land, also advocating for greater local food supply and security as well as the social and community cohesion perspective. This activity also has the potential to enhance the circularity of urban flows, repurposing nutrients from waste sources, increasing their self-sufficiency, reducing nutrient loss into the environment, and avoiding environmental cost of nutrient extraction and synthetization. The present work is aimed at defining recovery technologies outlined in the literature to obtain relevant nutrients such as N and P from waste sources in urban areas. Through literature research tools, the waste sources were defined, differentiating two main groups: (1) food, organic, biowaste and (2) wastewater. Up to 7 recovery strategies were identified for food, organic, and biowaste sources, while 11 strategies were defined for wastewater, mainly focusing on the recovery of N and P, which are applicable in UA in different forms. The potential of the recovered nutrients to cover existing and prospective UA sites was further assessed for the metropolitan area of Barcelona. Nutrient recovery from current composting and anaerobic digestion of urban sourced organic matter obtained each year in the area as well as the composting of wastewater sludge, struvite precipitation and ion exchange in wastewater effluent generated yearly in existing WWTPs were assessed. The results show that the requirements for the current and prospective UA in the area can be met 2.7 to 380.2 times for P and 1.7 to 117.5 times for N depending on the recovery strategy. While the present results are promising, current perceptions, legislation and the implementation and production costs compared to existing markets do not facilitate the application of nutrient recovery strategies, although a change is expected in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Arcas-Pilz
- Sostenipra Research Group (2021 SGR 00734), Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals ICTA-UAB (CEX2019-0940-M), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Gabarrell
- Sostenipra Research Group (2021 SGR 00734), Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals ICTA-UAB (CEX2019-0940-M), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Francesco Orsini
- DISTAL-Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gara Villalba
- Sostenipra Research Group (2021 SGR 00734), Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals ICTA-UAB (CEX2019-0940-M), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Yasmeen R, Sarfraz M, Shah WUH, Ivascu L, Cifuentes-Faura J. The impact of public awareness, infrastructure, and technological development with economic growth on solid waste management of European countries: does governance quality matters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:113442-113456. [PMID: 37851251 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30356-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Solid waste generation is a significant problem affecting the ecosystem, human health, and safety. However, the issue is not given the attention it truly deserves. Consequently, this study is aimed at assessing the impact of various factors, such as economic growth, public awareness, infrastructure, and technological advancements, on generating municipal waste in the European Union (EU) for the period 1995-2020. Furthermore, the study incorporated the mediating effect of economic growth and government effectiveness with public awareness, infrastructure, and technological development to reduce waste generation. By employing the bias-corrected method of moments, the study finds that overall waste generation does not decrease over time in EU economies. Furthermore, Denmark is the top-ranked country among the sampled countries to generate waste. However, Finland is at the top in government effectiveness. The empirical findings showed that economic growth is the significant reason for the increase in solid waste production. Additionally, the interaction effects of economic growth with public awareness, infrastructure, and technological development are positive. However, the individual impact of public awareness, infrastructure, and technological development is positive in reducing waste generation. Governance effectiveness is a significant tool to lower waste generation in European economies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizwana Yasmeen
- School of Economics and Management, Panzhihua University, Panzhihua, 617000, China
| | - Muddassar Sarfraz
- School of Management, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
| | - Wasi Ul Hassan Shah
- School of Management, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China.
- Department of Economics, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, 37491-13357, Iran.
| | - Larisa Ivascu
- Faculty of Management in Production and Transportation, Politehnica University of Timisoara, 300191, Timisoara, Romania
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Buyanjargal A, Kang J, Sleep BE, Jeen SW. Sequential treatment of nitrate and phosphate in groundwater using a permeable reactive barrier system. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 300:113699. [PMID: 34517233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
When not properly treated, nitrate and phosphate present in groundwater can damage human health and environments. In this study, laboratory column experiments were performed for sequential treatment of nitrate and phosphate in groundwater. Two columns were set up and connected: one to treat nitrate with organic carbon materials (i.e., woodchips) and the other to treat phosphate with basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag. The columns were operated for a total of 1.6 years. The results showed that nitrate was removed through denitrification and phosphate was removed by precipitation of the phosphate minerals (e.g., hydroxyapatite). BOF slag was effective at removing phosphate, though the high pH (11-12) of the system's effluent water raised a concern for the downgradient areas. Of the three subsequent experiments performed, pH was near neutral when the effluent of the BOF slag column was passed through local soil. Sparging with CO2 and air, in contrast, resulted in pH levels that were either too low (5 in the case of CO2) or too high (9.5 in the case of air). The study shows that sequential permeable reactive barrier (PRB) systems consisting of woodchips and BOF slag can be effective for removal of nitrate and phosphate in groundwater and they can be a long-term remedial solution for groundwater contaminated with both nitrate and phosphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altantsetseg Buyanjargal
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences & The Earth and Environmental Science System Research Center, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jiyoung Kang
- Department of Environment and Energy, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea.
| | - Brent E Sleep
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A4, Canada.
| | - Sung-Wook Jeen
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences & The Earth and Environmental Science System Research Center, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea; Department of Environment and Energy, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Modelling the effects of urbanization on nutrients pollution for prospective management of a tropical watershed: A case study of Skudai River watershed. Ecol Modell 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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7
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Mohammadi M, Martín-Hernández E, Martín M, Harjunkoski I. Modeling and Analysis of Organic Waste Management Systems in Centralized and Decentralized Supply Chains Using Generalized Disjunctive Programming. Ind Eng Chem Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c04638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Mohammadi
- Research Group of Process Control and Automation, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo FI-00076, Finland
| | - Edgar Martín-Hernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Salamanca, Plz. Caídos 1-5, Salamanca 37008, Spain
| | - Mariano Martín
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Salamanca, Plz. Caídos 1-5, Salamanca 37008, Spain
| | - Iiro Harjunkoski
- Research Group of Process Control and Automation, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo FI-00076, Finland
- Hitachi ABB Power Grids Research, Kallstadter Straße 1, Mannheim 68309, Germany
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8
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Villalba L. Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and waste characterizations for formal and informal performance indicators in Tandil, Argentina: Decision-making implications. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 264:110453. [PMID: 32250890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In cities, the achievement of waste-related legal requirements and the main drivers of Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) need adequate indicators and adaptable-to-case tools and strategies. In this work, we combine Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and waste characterizations to develop a mass balance table to design, calculate and analyse indicators related to the formal and informal waste sub-circuits of Tandil, a medium-sized city of the Buenos Aires province (Argentina). Results show that global recovery is very low (2.3% ± 0.16) and mainly driven by the Informal Recovery Sector (IRS). Also, the IRS strategy is more effective, recovering 40% ± 8.0 of its targeted materials from non-household sources. Regarding each material recovery performance, results show significant differences. For paper and board, recovery exceeds 20%. For HDPE, Tetra brik and Ferrous Metals are lower than 1%. In the case of PET and Glass, 9.6 and 9.0% of what is generated in households is recovered, respectively. However, the global recovery rate of each material is different: 2.9% ± 0.4 for PET and 5.5% ± 1.4 for Glass. Our research show that strategies in place are insufficient regarding legislation in force. Even a hypothetically 100% effectiveness in them will account only for 20.9% ± 2.1 of global recovery. Addressing organic waste, therefore, is imperative. Considering the current province law provision of final disposal diversion, accounting for the work of the IRS is key because they recover more waste than the official strategy. Regarding open dumps eradication, we estimate that up to 17% of generated waste is incorrectly final disposed through private skips illegally dumped. A tracking system for skips could avoid this situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Villalba
- Environmental Studies and Research Centre, Humanities School, National University of the Centre of the Buenos Aires Province, 7000, Tandil, Argentina; Industrial Engineering Department, Engineering School, National University of the Centre of the Buenos Aires Province, 7400, Olavarría, Argentina; Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics. University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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9
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Hosseinzadeh A, Baziar M, Alidadi H, Zhou JL, Altaee A, Najafpoor AA, Jafarpour S. Application of artificial neural network and multiple linear regression in modeling nutrient recovery in vermicompost under different conditions. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2020; 303:122926. [PMID: 32035386 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Vermicomposting is one of the best technologies for nutrient recovery from solid waste. This study aims to assess the efficiency of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models in predicting nutrient recovery from solid waste under different vermicompost treatments. Seven chemical and biological indices were studied as input variables to predict total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) recovery. The developed ANN and MLR models were compared by statistical analysis including R-squared (R2), Adjusted-R2, Root Mean Square Error and Absolute Average Deviation. The results showed that vermicomposting increased TN and TP proportions in final products by 1.5 and 16 times. The ANN models provided better prediction for TN and TP with R2 of 0.9983 and 0.9991 respectively, compared with MLR models with R2 of 0.834 and 0.729. TN and C/N ratio were key factors for TP and TN prediction by ANN with percentages of 17.76 and 18.33.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Hosseinzadeh
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Mansour Baziar
- Ferdows School of Paramedical and Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Hossein Alidadi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - John L Zhou
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Ali Altaee
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Ali Asghar Najafpoor
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Salman Jafarpour
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Chojnacka K, Moustakas K, Witek-Krowiak A. Bio-based fertilizers: A practical approach towards circular economy. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2020; 295:122223. [PMID: 31623921 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Although for the past 100 years, fertilizer technologies have increasingly used renewable resources, the majority of manufactured products are still based on mineral deposits and fossil fuels. The European Commission has set a goal of 30% reduction of non-renewable resources in fertilizer production. This can only be accomplished if there are incentives for wastes valorization and fines for making use of non-renewable raw materials. This will enable the reduction of eutrophication of surface waters due to the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus, originating from agricultural fields fertilizers. The use of biological waste is a practical solution to recover valuable fertilizer components. In order to effectively implement technologies based on biological resources, it is necessary to construct small wastes solubilization or fertilizer installations at the site of waste generation, which will solve the problem of waste transport or sanitary hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Chojnacka
- Department of Advanced Material Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw 50-373, Poland.
| | - Konstantinos Moustakas
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zographou Campus, GR-15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Witek-Krowiak
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw 50-373, Poland
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Treadwell JL, Bennett EM, Clark OG. The role of management instruments in the diversion of organic municipal solid waste and phosphorus recycling. Facets (Ott) 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2018-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Organic waste, which contains essential plant nutrients such as phosphorus, constitutes 30%–50% of municipal solid waste in developed countries. Unfortunately, much of this resource is buried in landfills or incinerated. Many jurisdictions have, therefore, adopted the diversion of organic waste and the recycling of nutrients as policy goals. We used data sets from Europe and Ontario, Canada, to explore the impact of socio-economic and management factors on the rates of organic waste diversion and examined the effect of this diversion on phosphorus recycling. Organic diversion rates were highly correlated with income in Europe and with infrastructure, such as source-separated organic waste collection, in Ontario. Significant correlations were also observed between diversion rates and the use of policy instruments such as economic incentives, legislative organic waste bans, and curbside bag limits. We estimated that 39%–63% of the phosphorus in diverted organics is returned to arable land. Ultimately, we found that although socio-economic factors influence the success of organic waste diversion, policies, accessible infrastructure, economic incentives, and legislative requirements can be leveraged to improve the recycling rate of organic waste and the nutrients they contain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian L. Treadwell
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Elena M. Bennett
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
- McGill School of Environment, McGill University, 3534 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
| | - O. Grant Clark
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
- McGill School of Environment, McGill University, 3534 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
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Oduro-Appiah K, Scheinberg A, Mensah A, Afful A, Boadu HK, de Vries N. Assessment of the municipal solid waste management system in Accra, Ghana: A 'Wasteaware' benchmark indicator approach. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2017; 35:1149-1158. [PMID: 28931348 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x17727066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This article assesses the performance of the city of Accra, Ghana, in municipal solid waste management as defined by the integrated sustainable waste management framework. The article reports on a participatory process to socialise the Wasteaware benchmark indicators and apply them to an upgraded set of data and information. The process has engaged 24 key stakeholders for 9 months, to diagram the flow of materials and benchmark three physical components and three governance aspects of the city's municipal solid waste management system. The results indicate that Accra is well below some other lower middle-income cities regarding sustainable modernisation of solid waste services. Collection coverage and capture of 75% and 53%, respectively, are a disappointing result, despite (or perhaps because of) 20 years of formal private sector involvement in service delivery. A total of 62% of municipal solid waste continues to be disposed of in controlled landfills and the reported recycling rate of 5% indicates both a lack of good measurement and a lack of interest in diverting waste from disposal. Drains, illegal dumps and beaches are choked with discarded bottles and plastic packaging. The quality of collection, disposal and recycling score between low and medium on the Wasteaware indicators, and the scores for user inclusivity, financial sustainability and local institutional coherence are low. The analysis suggests that waste and recycling would improve through greater provider inclusivity, especially the recognition and integration of the informal sector, and interventions that respond to user needs for more inclusive decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwaku Oduro-Appiah
- 1 Water and Sanitation Department, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | - Anthony Mensah
- 3 Waste Management Department, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Accra, Ghana
| | - Abraham Afful
- 1 Water and Sanitation Department, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Henry Kofi Boadu
- 1 Water and Sanitation Department, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Nanne de Vries
- 4 School of Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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13
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Chifari R, Lo Piano S, Matsumoto S, Tasaki T. Does recyclable separation reduce the cost of municipal waste management in Japan? WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 60:32-41. [PMID: 28119039 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2017.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a system involving multiple sub-systems that typically require demanding inputs, materials and resources to properly process generated waste throughput. For this reason, MSW management is generally one of the most expensive services provided by municipalities. In this paper, we analyze the Japanese MSW management system and estimate the cost elasticity with respect to the waste volumes at three treatment stages: collection, processing, and disposal. Although we observe economies of scale at all three stages, the collection cost is less elastic than the disposal cost. We also examine whether source separation at home affects the cost of MSW management. The empirical results show that the separate collection of the recyclable fraction leads to reduced processing costs at intermediate treatment facilities, but does not change the overall waste management cost. Our analysis also reveals that the cost of waste management systems decreases when the service is provided by private companies through a public tender. The cost decreases even more when the service is performed under the coordination of adjacent municipalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Chifari
- Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici Z, 08193 Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Samuele Lo Piano
- Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici Z, 08193 Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Shigeru Matsumoto
- Department of Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University, Room 828 Building 8, 4-4-25 Shibuya, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-8366, Japan.
| | - Tomohiro Tasaki
- Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
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LCA of the Collection, Transportation, Treatment and Disposal of Source Separated Municipal Waste: A Southern Italy Case Study. SUSTAINABILITY 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/su8111084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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