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Environmental Impact Assessment of Food Waste Management Using Two Composting Techniques

Author

Listed:
  • Aisha Al-Rumaihi

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Gordon McKay

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Hamish R. Mackey

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

  • Tareq Al-Ansari

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
    Division of Engineering Management and Decision Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar)

Abstract

Food waste is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and therefore global warming. As such, the management of food waste can play a fundamental role in the reduction of preventable emissions associated with food waste. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to evaluate and compare the environmental impact associated with two composting techniques for treating food waste using SimaPro software; windrow composting and the hybrid anaerobic digestion (AD) method. The study, based on a 1 tonne of food waste as a functional unit for a case study in the State of Qatar, concludes that anaerobic digestion combined composting presents a smaller environmental burden than windrow composting. The majority of the emissions generated are due to the use of fossil fuels during transportation, which correspond to approximately 60% of the total impact, followed by the impact of composting with 40% of the impact especially in terms of global warming potential. Environmental assessment impacts were the highest in windrow composting for the acidification impact category (9.39 × 10 − 1 kg SO 2 eq). While for AD combined composting the impact was highest for the human toxicity impact category (3.47 × 10 kg 1,4 − DB eq).

Suggested Citation

  • Aisha Al-Rumaihi & Gordon McKay & Hamish R. Mackey & Tareq Al-Ansari, 2020. "Environmental Impact Assessment of Food Waste Management Using Two Composting Techniques," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1595-:d:323177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li, Yangyang & Jin, Yiying, 2015. "Effects of thermal pretreatment on acidification phase during two-phase batch anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 550-557.
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    4. Laís Fabiana Serafini & Manuel Feliciano & Manuel Angelo Rodrigues & Artur Gonçalves, 2023. "Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Use of LCA to Assess the Environmental Impacts of the Composting Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-33, January.
    5. Tian, Hailin & Wang, Xiaonan & Lim, Ee Yang & Lee, Jonathan T.E. & Ee, Alvin W.L. & Zhang, Jingxin & Tong, Yen Wah, 2021. "Life cycle assessment of food waste to energy and resources: Centralized and decentralized anaerobic digestion with different downstream biogas utilization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
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    8. Adamu, Haruna & Bello, Usman & Yuguda, Abubakar Umar & Tafida, Usman Ibrahim & Jalam, Abdullahi Mohammad & Sabo, Ahmed & Qamar, Mohammad, 2023. "Production processes, techno-economic and policy challenges of bioenergy production from fruit and vegetable wastes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    9. Prakash Kumar Sarangi & Rajesh Kumar Srivastava & Akhilesh Kumar Singh & Uttam Kumar Sahoo & Piotr Prus & Roman Sass, 2023. "Municipal-Based Biowaste Conversion for Developing and Promoting Renewable Energy in Smart Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-28, August.
    10. Hamid Rastegari Kopaei & Mehdi Nooripoor & Ayatollah Karami & Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag & Dacinia Crina Petrescu, 2021. "Drivers of Residents’ Home Composting Intention: Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Norm Activation Model, and the Moderating Role of Composting Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-21, June.
    11. Giovanni Biancini & Barbara Marchetti & Luca Cioccolanti & Matteo Moglie, 2022. "Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment Analysis of an Italian Composting Facility concerning Environmental Footprint Minimization and Renewable Energy Integration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    12. Samar Elkhalifa & Hamish R. Mackey & Tareq Al-Ansari & Gordon McKay, 2022. "Pyrolysis of Biosolids to Produce Biochars: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, August.
    13. Piotr Sulewski & Karolina Kais & Marlena Gołaś & Grzegorz Rawa & Klaudia Urbańska & Adam Wąs, 2021. "Home Bio-Waste Composting for the Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    14. Ewa Neczaj & Anna Grosser & Anna Grobelak & Piotr Celary & Bal Ram Singh, 2021. "Conversion of Sewage Sludge and Other Biodegradable Waste into High-Value Soil Amendment within a Circular Bioeconomy Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, October.
    15. Sabah Mariyam & Logan Cochrane & Shifa Zuhara & Gordon McKay, 2022. "Waste Management in Qatar: A Systematic Literature Review and Recommendations for System Strengthening," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-23, July.
    16. Angeliki Maragkaki & Christos Gamvroudis & Christina Lountou & Pothitos Stamatiadis & Ioannis Sampathianakis & Akrivi Papadaki & Thrassyvoulos Manios, 2022. "Autonomous Home Composting Units for Urban Areas in Greece: The Case Study of the Municipality of Rhodes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.
    17. Prasesh Pote Shrestha & Anish Ghimire & Mohan B. Dangi & Michael A. Urynowicz, 2023. "Development of a Municipal Solid Waste Management Life Cycle Assessment Tool for Banepa Municipality, Nepal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    18. Cecilia Bruni & Çağrı Akyol & Giulia Cipolletta & Anna Laura Eusebi & Donatella Caniani & Salvatore Masi & Joan Colón & Francesco Fatone, 2020. "Decentralized Community Composting: Past, Present and Future Aspects of Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, April.

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