IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i9p2291-d354288.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Decision-Making Process in the Circular Economy: A Case Study on University Food Waste-to-Energy Actions in Latin America

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Brenes-Peralta

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • María F. Jiménez-Morales

    (Agribusiness School, Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica)

  • Rooel Campos-Rodríguez

    (Agribusiness School, Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica)

  • Fabio De Menna

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Matteo Vittuari

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

Economies have begun to shift from linear to circular, adopting, among others, waste-to-energy approaches. Waste management is known to be a paramount challenge, and food waste (FW) in particular, has gained the interest of several actors due to its potential impacts and energy recovery opportunities. However, the selection of alternative valorization scenarios can pose several queries in certain contexts. This paper evaluates four FW valorization scenarios based on anaerobic digestion and composting, in comparison to landfilling, by applying a consistent decision-making framework through a combination of linear programming, Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The evaluation was built upon a case study of five universities in Costa Rica and portrayed the trade-offs between environmental impacts and cost categories from the scenarios and their side flows. Results indicate that the landfill scenario entails higher Global Warming Potential and Fresh Water Eutrophication impacts than the valorization scenarios; however, other impact categories and costs are affected. Centralized recovery facilities can increase the Global Warming Potential and the Land Use compared to semi-centralized ones. Experts provided insights, regarding the ease of adoption of composting, in contrast to the potential of energy sources substitution and economic savings from anaerobic digestion.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Brenes-Peralta & María F. Jiménez-Morales & Rooel Campos-Rodríguez & Fabio De Menna & Matteo Vittuari, 2020. "Decision-Making Process in the Circular Economy: A Case Study on University Food Waste-to-Energy Actions in Latin America," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:9:p:2291-:d:354288
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/9/2291/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/9/2291/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fabio Menna & Jennifer Davis & Karin Östergren & Nicole Unger & Marion Loubiere & Matteo Vittuari, 2020. "A combined framework for the life cycle assessment and costing of food waste prevention and valorization: an application to school canteens," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Francesca Demichelis & Francesco Piovano & Silvia Fiore, 2019. "Biowaste Management in Italy: Challenges and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Daniel Hoehn & María Margallo & Jara Laso & Isabel García-Herrero & Alba Bala & Pere Fullana-i-Palmer & Angel Irabien & Rubén Aldaco, 2019. "Energy Embedded in Food Loss Management and in the Production of Uneaten Food: Seeking a Sustainable Pathway," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Daniel A. Salas & Paulina Criollo & Angel D. Ramirez, 2021. "The Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Implementation of Circular Economy in Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-27, August.
    2. Jones, R.E. & Speight, R.E. & Blinco, J.L. & O'Hara, I.M., 2022. "Biorefining within food loss and waste frameworks: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Estefani Rondón Toro & Ana López Martínez & Amaya Lobo García de Cortázar, 2023. "Sequential Methodology for the Selection of Municipal Waste Treatment Alternatives Applied to a Case Study in Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Francisco Javier Villegas Pinuer & Joan Llonch Andreu & Pilar López Belbeze & Leslier Valenzuela-Fernández, 2021. "Waste Management. The Disconnection between Normative and SMEs Reality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Phemelo Tamasiga & Taghi Miri & Helen Onyeaka & Abarasi Hart, 2022. "Food Waste and Circular Economy: Challenges and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-30, August.
    6. Anna Kurbatova & Hani Ahmed Abu-Qdais, 2020. "Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to Select Waste to Energy Technology for a Mega City: The Case of Moscow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-18, November.
    7. Leidy Marcela Ulloa-Murillo & Lina María Villegas & Alejandra Rocío Rodríguez-Ortiz & Mónica Duque-Acevedo & Francisco Joaquín Cortés-García, 2022. "Management of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste in the Context of a Sustainable and Circular Model: Analysis of Trends in Latin America and the Caribbean," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-25, May.
    8. Jing Li & Wei Li & Lei Wang & Baihui Jin, 2021. "Environmental and Cost Impacts of Food Waste in University Canteen from a Life Cycle Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Do, Quynh & Ramudhin, Amar & Colicchia, Claudia & Creazza, Alessandro & Li, Dong, 2021. "A systematic review of research on food loss and waste prevention and management for the circular economy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    2. Daniel Hoehn & María Margallo & Jara Laso & Israel Ruiz-Salmón & Laura Batlle-Bayer & Alba Bala & Pere Fullana-i-Palmer & Rubén Aldaco, 2021. "A Novel Composite Index for the Development of Decentralized Food Production, Food Loss, and Waste Management Policies: A Water-Climate-Food Nexus Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Jara Laso & Cristina Campos & Ana Fernández-Ríos & Daniel Hoehn & Andrea del Río & Israel Ruiz-Salmón & Jorge Cristobal & Ainoa Quiñones & Francisco José Amo-Setién & María del Carmen Ortego & Sergio , 2020. "Looking for Answers to Food Loss and Waste Management in Spain from a Holistic Nutritional and Economic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Katri Joensuu & Eric Harrison & Hanna Hartikainen, 2022. "What to Do with Food Waste? A Holistic Feasibility Framework to Evaluate Different Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Bohuslava Mihalčová & Antonín Korauš & Olha Prokopenko & Jozefína Hvastová & Magdaléna Freňáková & Peter Gallo & Beáta Balogová, 2021. "Effective Management Tools for Solving the Problem of Poverty in Relation to Food Waste in Context of Integrated Management of Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Caterina Contini & Giuseppe Marotta & Biancamaria Torquati, 2020. "Multi-actor approaches to implement cooperative strategies and value chains based on sustainability," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-4, December.
    7. Teodora Stillitano & Emanuele Spada & Nathalie Iofrida & Giacomo Falcone & Anna Irene De Luca, 2021. "Sustainable Agri-Food Processes and Circular Economy Pathways in a Life Cycle Perspective: State of the Art of Applicative Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-28, February.
    8. Aino Friman & Nina Hyytiä, 2022. "The Economic and Welfare Effects of Food Waste Reduction on a Food-Production-Driven Rural Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Wafaurahman Wafa & Amir Hamzah Sharaai & Nitanan Koshy Matthew & Sabrina Abdullah J Ho & Noor Ahmad Akhundzada, 2022. "Organizational Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (OLCSA) for a Higher Education Institution as an Organization: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-29, February.
    10. Efthymios Rodias & Eirini Aivazidou & Charisios Achillas & Dimitrios Aidonis & Dionysis Bochtis, 2020. "Water-Energy-Nutrients Synergies in the Agrifood Sector: A Circular Economy Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    11. Nour El Houda Chaher & Safwat Hemidat & Qahtan Thabit & Mehrez Chakchouk & Abdallah Nassour & Moktar Hamdi & Michael Nelles, 2020. "Potential of Sustainable Concept for Handling Organic Waste in Tunisia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-31, October.
    12. Daniel Hoehn & Jara Laso & María Margallo & Israel Ruiz-Salmón & Francisco José Amo-Setién & Rebeca Abajas-Bustillo & Carmen Sarabia & Ainoa Quiñones & Ian Vázquez-Rowe & Alba Bala & Laura Batlle-Baye, 2021. "Introducing a Degrowth Approach to the Circular Economy Policies of Food Production, and Food Loss and Waste Management: Towards a Circular Bioeconomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-17, March.
    13. Isabella Pecorini & Elena Rossi & Renato Iannelli, 2020. "Bromatological, Proximate and Ultimate Analysis of OFMSW for Different Seasons and Collection Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, March.
    14. Nesrin Ada & Yigit Kazancoglu & Muruvvet Deniz Sezer & Cigdem Ede-Senturk & Idil Ozer & Mangey Ram, 2021. "Analyzing Barriers of Circular Food Supply Chains and Proposing Industry 4.0 Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-29, June.
    15. Benedetta Esposito & Maria Rosaria Sessa & Daniela Sica & Ornella Malandrino, 2020. "Towards Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector. A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    16. Andrea Taffuri & Alessandro Sciullo & Arnaud Diemer & Claudiu Eduard Nedelciu, 2021. "Integrating Circular Bioeconomy and Urban Dynamics to Define an Innovative Management of Bio-Waste: The Study Case of Turin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, June.
    17. Aiban Abdulhakim Saeed Ghaleb & Shamsul Rahman Mohamed Kutty & Yeek-Chia Ho & Ahmad Hussaini Jagaba & Azmatullah Noor & Abdulnaser Mohammed Al-Sabaeei & Najib Mohammed Yahya Almahbashi, 2020. "Response Surface Methodology to Optimize Methane Production from Mesophilic Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Oily-Biological Sludge and Sugarcane Bagasse," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-11, March.
    18. Anna Rolewicz-Kalińska & Krystyna Lelicińska-Serafin & Piotr Manczarski, 2020. "The Circular Economy and Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-20, August.
    19. K. Mostaghimi & J. Behnamian, 2023. "Waste minimization towards waste management and cleaner production strategies: a literature review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 12119-12166, November.
    20. Jara Laso & Isabel García-Herrero & María Margallo & Alba Bala & Pere Fullana-i-Palmer & Angel Irabien & Rubén Aldaco, 2019. "LCA-Based Comparison of Two Organic Fraction Municipal Solid Waste Collection Systems in Historical Centres in Spain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:9:p:2291-:d:354288. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.