IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i11p6385-d568716.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable Management of Organic Waste and Recycling for Bioplastics: A LCA Approach for the Italian Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Giuliana Vinci

    (Department of Management, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Roberto Ruggieri

    (Department of Management, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Andrea Billi

    (Department of Legal and Economic Studies, Sapienza, University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Carmine Pagnozzi

    (Assobioplastiche, Piazza di S. Bernardo, 109, 00187 Rome, Italy)

  • Maria Vittoria Di Loreto

    (Department of Management, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Ruggeri

    (Department of Management, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The collection of the organic fraction in Italy recorded significant growth in the decade 2010–2019 (+74%) due to both the increase in the spread of separate waste collection as well as the increase in the biological treatment plants of municipal waste. However, within the organic fraction there remains a share of non-compostable material (NCM) (plastic, glass, aluminum, etc.), equal to ~5% of the total, which affects the efficiency of composting practices as well as decreasing both the yield and the quality of the final compost, causing a portion of organic material to be subtracted from composting and ending up in landfills. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to evaluate how the sustainability of the organic fraction collection and the amount of compost obtained in the composting plants could improve, following the use of biodegradable and compostable bioplastic bags (shoppers), in replacement for conventional plastic ones. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Carbon Footprint (CF) methodology was used for the assessment, comparing two different scenarios based on data relating to the collection of the organic fraction in Italy in 2019. Scenario 1 relates to the composting of organic material that also contains plastics, bioplastics, and non-compostable materials, while in scenario 2 the share of plastic material in the first scenario has been entirely replaced by bioplastics. The results show that scenario 2 assumes the lowest values for 15 impact categories out of the 18 analyzed, and, among these, in three categories it assumes negative values: ozone formation-terrestrial ecosystems (−1.64 × 10 −2 kg NO X eq), ozone formation-human health (−8.50 × 10 −3 kg NO X eq), and fossil resource scarcity (−4.91 × 10 2 kg oil eq). Furthermore, scenario 2 has a negative carbon footprint (−3.80 kg CO 2 eq) compared to scenario 1 (79.71 kg CO 2 eq), and in general it is the most sustainable scenario as a direct consequence of the greater amount of compost obtained (307.4 kg vs. 269.2 kg).

Suggested Citation

  • Giuliana Vinci & Roberto Ruggieri & Andrea Billi & Carmine Pagnozzi & Maria Vittoria Di Loreto & Marco Ruggeri, 2021. "Sustainable Management of Organic Waste and Recycling for Bioplastics: A LCA Approach for the Italian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6385-:d:568716
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6385/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6385/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Irena Wojnowska-Baryła & Dorota Kulikowska & Katarzyna Bernat, 2020. "Effect of Bio-Based Products on Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-12, March.
    2. 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.
    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. Spyridoula Gerassimidou & Olwenn V. Martin & Gilenny Yamily Feliz Diaz & Chaoying Wan & Dimitrios Komilis & Eleni Iacovidou, 2022. "Systematic Evidence Mapping to Assess the Sustainability of Bioplastics Derived from Food Waste: Do We Know Enough?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-27, December.
    2. Eliana Mancini & Viviana Negro & Davide Mainero & Andrea Raggi, 2022. "The Use of a Simplified Carbon Footprint Tool for Organic Waste Managers: Pros and Cons," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Alessandro Cardarelli & Marco Barbanera, 2023. "Substitution of Fossil Coal with Hydrochar from Agricultural Waste in the Electric Arc Furnace Steel Industry: A Comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Donatella Restuccia & Sabrina Antonia Prencipe & Marco Ruggeri & Umile Gianfranco Spizzirri, 2022. "Sustainability Assessment of Different Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extraction Methods through a Life Cycle Thinking Approach: Challenges and Opportunities in the Elaio-Technical Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.

    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. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Nandakumar, Ardra & Chuah, Jo-Ann & Sudesh, Kumar, 2021. "Bioplastics: A boon or bane?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    4. 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.
    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).
    6. Piotr Sołowiej & Patrycja Pochwatka & Agnieszka Wawrzyniak & Krzysztof Łapiński & Andrzej Lewicki & Jacek Dach, 2021. "The Effect of Heat Removal during Thermophilic Phase on Energetic Aspects of Biowaste Composting Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-14, February.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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).
    10. Gulnar Sugurbekova & Elvira Nagyzbekkyzy & Ainur Sarsenova & Gaziza Danlybayeva & Sandugash Anuarbekova & Rabiga Kudaibergenova & Céline Frochot & Samir Acherar & Yerlan Zhatkanbayev & Nazira Moldagul, 2023. "Sewage Sludge Management and Application in the Form of Sustainable Fertilizer," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Hai Wang, 2023. "Comparative Study of a Fixed-Focus Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator/Conical Cavity Receiver System with and without Glass Cover Installed in a Solar Cooker," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-19, June.
    12. 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.
    13. Negri, Camilla & Ricci, Marina & Zilio, Massimo & D'Imporzano, Giuliana & Qiao, Wei & Dong, Renjie & Adani, Fabrizio, 2020. "Anaerobic digestion of food waste for bio-energy production in China and Southeast Asia: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    14. 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.
    15. Rakesh Kumar & Anurag Verma & Arkajyoti Shome & Rama Sinha & Srishti Sinha & Prakash Kumar Jha & Ritesh Kumar & Pawan Kumar & Shubham & Shreyas Das & Prabhakar Sharma & P. V. Vara Prasad, 2021. "Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-41, September.
    16. Jara Laso & Israel Ruiz-Salmón & María Margallo & Pedro Villanueva-Rey & Lucía Poceiro & Paula Quinteiro & Ana Cláudia Dias & Cheila Almeida & António Marques & Eduardo Entrena-Barbero & María Teresa , 2022. "Achieving Sustainability of the Seafood Sector in the European Atlantic Area by Addressing Eco-Social Challenges: The NEPTUNUS Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-25, March.
    17. Kulyash Meiramkulova & Davud Devrishov & Anuarbek Kakabayev & Nurbiy Marzanov & Aigul Kurmanbayeva & Gulmira Adilbektegi & Saida Marzanova & Assel Kydyrbekova & Timoth Mkilima, 2022. "Investigating the Influence of Fly Attractant on Food Waste Recovery through Fly Larvae Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. 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.

    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:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6385-:d:568716. 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.