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

Author

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  • 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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francesca Demichelis & Francesco Piovano & Silvia Fiore, 2019. "Biowaste Management in Italy: Challenges and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-21, August.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
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    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.

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