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Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management...
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Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy

A special issue of Resources (ISSN 2079-9276).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 19248

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carlo Ingrao

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Guest Editor
Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
Interests: bioenergy; food packaging; industrial ecology; life cycle assessment; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alberto Bezama

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Guest Editor
Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Department of Bioenergy, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Interests: resource management under life cycle concepts; social life cycle assessment in regional contexts; regionalized assessment of sustainability issues related to the bioeconomy field; evaluation of emerging bio-based technologies under a system analysis perspective
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Annarita Paiano

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Guest Editor
Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
Interests: life cycle assessment; energy systems and climate change; the environmental impact and assessment of weee; end-of-life management; environmental impact of tourism; water and carbon footprint; circular economy; biomass and biofuels of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jakob Hildebrandt

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Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Zittau/Goerlitz University of Applied Sciences, Zittau, Germany
2. ZIRKON—Zittau Institute for Process Engineering, Circular Economy, Surface Technology, Natural Materials Research, Leader of the Working Group Bioeconomy, Zittau, Germany
Interests: circular bioeconomy; life cycle sustainability assessment; industrial symbiosis; cleaner production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Claudia Arcidiacono

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: livestock buildings; ammonia and GHG emissions; precision livestock farming; sensors; monitoring; measuring; modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The economy for the last 150 years has been based upon the take–make–use–dispose model that—as is known—results in the unresponsibile, uncontrolled extraction of resources for production and consumption, and no effective plans for waste reutilisation and economy regeneration.

In recent years, such a linear model of the economy has become a global concern and has been proven as causing a number of problems, mainly related to:

  • Virgin materials being extracted beyond their replenishment capacities;
  • Post-use commodities being often landfilled or being treated in inceneration plants, which has the consequence of valuable and scarce natural resources being extracted anew, and the original resources being lost for the manufacturing of new products;
  • Unsafe, unsustainable waste-management practices leading to hazardous substances being emitted into the air, water and soil, and generating alarming environmental-pollution conditions;
  • Product manufacturing and distribution being responsible for extensive energy use, emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, thus, heavily damaging human health, resources, climate change and ecosystem quality.

All those aspects contribute to making the linear model of the economy totally unsustainable from an integrated, holistic perspective. This puts emphasis upon the urgent need for transitioning to a model of the economy that maximises circularity of resources, thus, generating environmental and socioeconomic benefits that are well documented in the literature and mainly derived from resource prevention.

In this context, the circular economy (CE) is increasingly attracting interest and attention from international science and policy communities, as it provides the eco-design and promotion of durable products that can be reused, repaired and remanufactured before being recycled. By doing so, the CE helps in maintaining products, components and materials at their highest levels of utility and value.

The CE differs from the former, linear economic model, as it is essentially based upon the two complementary features of slowing and closing the resource loops that are accomplished through five circular flows (i.e. share, repair, reuse, remanufacture and recycling), whilst maximising resource efficiency. In practice, through those flows, the CE minimises waste and excessive resource utilisation by turning goods at the end of their lifespans, as well as the wastes from their manufacturing and usage, into resources for the production of other commodities. Therefore, from a CE perspective, integrated strategies should be implemented:

  • for preventing wastes being generated both from the technical and the biological cycles; and
  • for managing and recovering, in more sustainable manners, the biomass and non-biomass wastes that are inevitably generated.

Under this perspective, affordable, effective and sustainable waste-management systems are essential for sustainable development, as they can contribute to reducing the jeopardisation of material and energy resources from enhanced globalisation and industrialisation.

Within this context, it is no surprise that waste valorisation through sustainable management scenarios is increasingly receiving attention and interest from researchers, producers, and decision and policy makers. It plays multiple key roles in the sustainability of a huge number of sectors, including agriculture and food production, buildings and bioenergy, and can favour the implementation of sustainable development paths in the urban and rural context.

For waste-management systems to be sustainable, the environmental, economic and social aspects need to be computed. Methodologies, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA), are very powerful tools to address trade-offs, both amongst life cycle stages and amongst different sustainability pillars.

In this context, the significant response to our previous Special Issue encouraged the Journal Editors to implement a second volume on this topic, aiming at contributing further to advance the literature and the knowledge on such a relevant field of research. The Guest Editors are confident that, along with the previous one, this second volume will make it possible to create a reliable and up-to-date picture of the state of the art of LCA and LCSA applications for waste-management systems in the context of circular economy and circular bioeconomy.

Dr. Carlo Ingrao
Dr. Alberto Bezama
Dr. Annarita Paiano
Prof. Dr. Jakob Hildebrandt
Prof. Dr. Claudia Arcidiacono
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Resources is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainability
  • circular economy
  • circular bioeconomy
  • resource recovery
  • life cycle assessment
  • life cycle sustainability assessment

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2070 KiB  
Article
Apple Pomace Integrated Biorefinery for Biofuels Production: A Techno-Economic and Environmental Sustainability Analysis
by Ricardo Rebolledo-Leiva, Sofía Estévez, Diógenes Hernández, Gumersindo Feijoo, María Teresa Moreira and Sara González-García
Resources 2024, 13(11), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13110156 - 7 Nov 2024
Viewed by 293
Abstract
The combination of techno-economic process modelling and life cycle assessment is an integrated methodology that addresses quantitative operational data, and evaluates the emissions associated with any process under development. In particular, the valorisation of waste streams within the context of the circular economy [...] Read more.
The combination of techno-economic process modelling and life cycle assessment is an integrated methodology that addresses quantitative operational data, and evaluates the emissions associated with any process under development. In particular, the valorisation of waste streams within the context of the circular economy could be considered a valid and promising approach, especially regarding techno-economic and environmental indicators. This manuscript aims to evaluate the integral valorisation of apple pomace from the processing industry into bioethanol, and vinasses (a byproduct of the distillation process) into biogas and digestate as biofertiliser. In addition to biogas production, lagooning and composting were considered as strategies for vinasse management. After the conceptual design of the process options was completed, the environmental profile of bioethanol production was estimated across different scenarios. When biogas production was integrated to reduce the biorefinery’s energy demand, the carbon footprint was 1.13 kg CO2eq∙kg−1. This footprint increased to values around four when lagooning and composting were used as vinasse management strategies. Although the economic dimension posed a significant limitation due to high investment costs, the eco-efficiency analysis showed that the scenario of the co-production of bioethanol and biogas is the best alternative. Despite the promising results, further research is needed to explore the recovery of additional co-products to develop a high-potential strategy for apple pomace. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy)
27 pages, 2923 KiB  
Article
Sustainability and Environmental Performance in Selective Collection of Residual Materials: Impact of Modulating Citizen Participation Through Policy and Incentive Implementation
by Laurie Fontaine, Robert Legros and Jean-Marc Frayret
Resources 2024, 13(11), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13110151 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 468
Abstract
The effective management of urban waste represents a growing challenge in the face of demographic evolution and increased consumption. This study explores the impacts of municipal strategic decisions on household waste management behaviours and sustainability performance outcomes through agent-based modelling. Using data from [...] Read more.
The effective management of urban waste represents a growing challenge in the face of demographic evolution and increased consumption. This study explores the impacts of municipal strategic decisions on household waste management behaviours and sustainability performance outcomes through agent-based modelling. Using data from Gatineau and Beaconsfield in Quebec, Canada, the model is calibrated and validated to represent diverse urban contexts. Our analysis demonstrates that reducing collection frequency leads to notable increases in participation rates, reaching 78.2 ± 5.1% for collections every two weeks and 96.5 ± 8.3% for collections every five weeks. While this reduction improves bin filling levels, it concurrently decreases the recovery of recyclable materials by 2.8% and 19.5%, significantly undermining the environmental benefits of the recycling program. These findings highlight a complex interplay between collection frequency, citizen participation behaviour, waste stream characteristics, and overall environmental performance. While reducing collection frequency initially appears beneficial, it leads to operational challenges and increased CO2 emissions due to reduced material recovery. The research emphasises the need for tailored holistic waste management strategies that optimise performance outcomes while minimising environmental impacts. By understanding these dynamics, municipalities can develop more effective waste management policies that promote sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy)
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19 pages, 881 KiB  
Article
From Your Plate to Our Bin: Tackling Food Waste in Saudi Family Restaurants
by Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih and Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr
Resources 2024, 13(10), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13100134 - 26 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1100
Abstract
This research tackled the food waste problem in Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on family restaurants, where this issue is evident. The study adopted a semi-structured survey, including structured and open-ended questions with family restaurants’ owner–manager/managers. The results of quantitative and qualitative [...] Read more.
This research tackled the food waste problem in Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on family restaurants, where this issue is evident. The study adopted a semi-structured survey, including structured and open-ended questions with family restaurants’ owner–manager/managers. The results of quantitative and qualitative data analysis showed that the most frequent types of food waste in family restaurants are starchy foods, especially bread and rice with a waste ratio above 50% of these items. Additionally, the average ratio of food waste was at least 20% of served food at sampled restaurants per customer. Three major reasons for this high rate of food waste were consumers’ behavior, e.g., positive attitude towards food waste; external factors, e.g., absence of a legal framework; and factors related to restaurants, e.g., food portion served and food cycle management. The results identified no applied strategies for handling food left over and reducing food waste at most (70%) of Saudi restaurants. This study calls for a national policy and program on managing food waste at Saudi family restaurants by adopting the 5Rs model for proper food waste management. Restaurants are encouraged to adopt green initiatives, such as “clean your plate” or “eat or waste” to stimulate their customers’ behavior for reducing their food waste and sustain the environment. This would support a green and circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy)
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17 pages, 11121 KiB  
Article
The Use of Phosphogypsum as a Source of Raw Materials for Gypsum-Based Materials
by Kseniya Levickaya, Nataliya Alfimova, Ivan Nikulin, Natalia Kozhukhova and Aleksander Buryanov
Resources 2024, 13(5), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13050069 - 14 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1568
Abstract
Gypsum binders and the products based on them are widely in demand in the construction materials market, which is due to their easy production technology, lower energy consumption, and low environmental impact in relation to Portland cement. Not only natural gypsum (NG), but [...] Read more.
Gypsum binders and the products based on them are widely in demand in the construction materials market, which is due to their easy production technology, lower energy consumption, and low environmental impact in relation to Portland cement. Not only natural gypsum (NG), but also phosphogypsum (PG), which is a by-product of the synthesis of orthophosphoric acid from phosphorite rock, can be used as a source of raw materials for the production of gypsum materials. PG is produced annually in large quantities throughout the world. In chemical composition, PG mainly consists of calcium sulfate dihydrate CaSO4·2H2O, so it is a good potential analogue of natural gypsum, which is used as the main component of gypsum building materials. Thus, the useful recycling of PG as a technogenic resource with valuable properties will expand the raw material base for the production of gypsum materials. This approach to handling technogenic resources fits well with the principles of a circular economy. However, like any technogenic resource, PGs from different enterprises normally differ in their deposits of the original phosphate rock and production technologies. Therefore, PG contains a large number of undesirable impurities, the proportion and composition of which vary over a wide range. This feature does not allow for predicting the properties of PG-based materials without a preliminary detailed study of PG. This research was aimed at carrying out a comprehensive study of the characteristics of PGs from three different industrial plants to evaluate their relationship with the properties of gypsum materials based on them. It was found that PGs have significant differences in their structural and morphological characteristics both in relation to each other and in relation to NG. Also, binders based on PG and NG have significant differences in their physical properties. The average density, compressive strength, and flexural strength for the PG binders with equal workability are lower than those of NG binders. At a water/solid ratio (W/S) < 0.7, all PG binders exhibit comparable compressive strength to NG binders. Thus, PG can act as an alternative to natural gypsum in gypsum binders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy)
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13 pages, 2591 KiB  
Article
Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Assessment of Enzymatic Hydrolysis-Based Fish Protein and Oil Extraction
by Bashir Bashiri, Janna Cropotova, Kristine Kvangarsnes, Olga Gavrilova and Raivo Vilu
Resources 2024, 13(5), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13050061 - 24 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1737
Abstract
As global fish consumption rises, a large amount of waste is generated that is generally neglected. Considering the value embedded in these resources, sustainable methods become more important in extracting valuable ingredients from fish processing residues. Enzymatic hydrolysis is a fast and easily [...] Read more.
As global fish consumption rises, a large amount of waste is generated that is generally neglected. Considering the value embedded in these resources, sustainable methods become more important in extracting valuable ingredients from fish processing residues. Enzymatic hydrolysis is a fast and easily reproducible method for recovering protein ingredients and obtaining valuable by-products. To confirm its advantages, an environmental and economic impact assessment is essential. This study overviewed the sustainability and economic viability of extracting protein compounds and oil from Atlantic mackerel processing residues using enzymatic hydrolysis. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) methods were employed. It was found that the climate change impact of the whole process was 0.073 kg CO2-eq per 1 g of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH). As the process produces FPH as the main product and fish oil as the by-product, economic allocation was used to distribute the impacts of FPH and fish oil. The findings of the LCCA showed that producing 1 g of FPH costs EUR 3.68. The contribution analysis indicated the crucial role of electricity and fish in environmental impacts. To ensure the accuracy of the calculation, the results of an LCA study published previously were recalculated. The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were susceptible to the region and source of electricity production. This research provides valuable insights into the sustainability and economic aspects of using enzymatic hydrolysis for extracting protein ingredients and oils from Atlantic mackerel. This can inform future investigations of environmentally friendly and economically viable solutions for extracting fish ingredients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy)
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16 pages, 295 KiB  
Article
The Role of Internet and Social Interactions in Advancing Waste Sorting Behaviors in Rural Communities
by Liz Maribel Robladillo Bravo, Ricardo Fernando Cosio Borda, Luis Alberto Marcelo Quispe, James Arístides Pajuelo Rodríguez, Józef Ober and Nisar Ahmed Khan
Resources 2024, 13(4), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13040057 - 9 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2186 | Correction
Abstract
Addressing the global challenge of sustainable waste management, this research investigates the influence of social dynamics and digital connectivity on rural residents’ willingness to adopt waste classification practices, essential for sustainable environmental management. Through a comprehensive analysis of 5413 rural participants surveyed in [...] Read more.
Addressing the global challenge of sustainable waste management, this research investigates the influence of social dynamics and digital connectivity on rural residents’ willingness to adopt waste classification practices, essential for sustainable environmental management. Through a comprehensive analysis of 5413 rural participants surveyed in the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS), this study employs a novel mixed-methods approach. It integrates quantitative analysis with the Manski social interaction framework and a Recursive Bivariate Probit model to explore the intricate interplay between community interactions, internet access, and environmental behaviors. Our methodology stands out for its unique combination of social theory and econometric modeling to address a pressing environmental issue. Results highlight a significant effect of mobile internet use and social interactions within communities on enhancing willingness towards waste classification. Notably, digital connectivity emerges as a key facilitator of environmental engagement, mediating social influences, and fostering a collective approach to waste management. Considering these insights, we propose targeted policy interventions that blend digital strategies with traditional community engagement efforts. Recommendations include crafting digital literacy programs and leveraging social media to bolster community-centric environmental governance. By harnessing the synergistic potential of digital tools and social dynamics, these strategies aim to elevate the effectiveness of waste classification initiatives in rural China, offering a scalable model for environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy)
14 pages, 3043 KiB  
Article
Technogenic Reservoirs Resources of Mine Methane When Implementing the Circular Waste Management Concept
by Vladimir Brigida, Vladimir Ivanovich Golik, Elena V. Voitovich, Vladislav V. Kukartsev, Valeriy E. Gozbenko, Vladimir Yu. Konyukhov and Tatiana A. Oparina
Resources 2024, 13(2), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13020033 - 17 Feb 2024
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 1870
Abstract
From a commercial viewpoint, mine methane is the most promising object in the field of reducing emissions of climate-active gases due to circular waste management. Therefore, the task of this research is to estimate the technogenic reservoirs resources of mine methane when implementing [...] Read more.
From a commercial viewpoint, mine methane is the most promising object in the field of reducing emissions of climate-active gases due to circular waste management. Therefore, the task of this research is to estimate the technogenic reservoirs resources of mine methane when implementing the circular waste management concept. The novelty of the authors’ approach lies in reconstructing the response space for the dynamics of methane release from the front and cross projections: CH4 = ƒ(S; t) and CH4 = ƒ(S; L), respectively. The research established a polynomial dependence of nonlinear changes in methane concentrations in the mixture extracted by type 4 wells when a massif is undermined as a result of mining in a full-retreat panel. And the distance from the face to the start of mining the panel is reduced by 220 m. For this reason, the emission of mine methane, in case of degasification network disruption in 15 days, can amount to more than 660 thousand m3 only for wells of type no. 4. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy)
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18 pages, 720 KiB  
Article
A LifeCycle Analysis and Economic Cost Analysis of Corrugated Cardboard Box Reuse and Recycling in the United States
by Harshwardhan Ketkale and Steven Simske
Resources 2023, 12(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12020022 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 8217
Abstract
Manufacturing of a product such as a corrugated cardboard box (CCB) includes the extraction of a variety of raw materials in addition to supply chain efforts to get the raw materials to the industry. Conducting a LifeCycle Assessment (LCA) gives the carbon emission [...] Read more.
Manufacturing of a product such as a corrugated cardboard box (CCB) includes the extraction of a variety of raw materials in addition to supply chain efforts to get the raw materials to the industry. Conducting a LifeCycle Assessment (LCA) gives the carbon emission of each phase of the product and a quantitative estimate of the overall product carbon footprint and its effect on the environment. This gives impetus to recommendations for improving the phases of the lifecycle to minimize carbon emissions. The proposed waste management method in this paper is the “reuse” method instead of recycling or landfilling the CCB and, in so doing, focusing only on reducing carbon emissions in the manufacturing phase. The paper examines if the incremental cost of reusing the CCBs is less than the environmental and economic cost of reducing the extraction and supply chain of raw materials. This paper uses LCA to evaluate the carbon emission in each phase of the lifecycle of a typical 1 kg corrugated cardboard box in the United States. Carbon emission for the proposed “reuse” phase is also calculated, and the results are compared. This paper also explores the economic feasibility of the proposed “reuse” method that incentivizes the general population to reuse the CCBs instead of recycling or landfilling them. Economic tools such as willingness-to-pay vs. marginal cost curves and benefit-cost analyses are used to evaluate economic feasibility. The results indicate that the “reuse” method for CCBs is economically and environmentally feasible. It also supports the approach of using analytics, economics, and LCA to create a model that can be used for other products and processes as an evaluative process to determine if businesses can benefit from the reduction (or removal) of material extraction costs from the supply chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis of Resource Recovery from Waste Management Systems in the Context of Circular Models of the Economy and the Bioeconomy)
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