Waste as a resource
11.1 Waste and the circular economy
The test model concept has a number of interrelated elements: it is spatially-explicit it models materials (“resources”) it models conversions (“processes”) – both natural and synthetic it includes business models, economics and behaviour
1.1 The Ecological Sequestration Trust (TEST) circular economy model
Overall ambition: identify nature, quantity, location and destination of wastes
combining spatial and technological models identifies local opportunities.
needs knowledge of potential local “user” industries material types, demands, locations, technology needs
identify piloting opportunities locations stakeholders/partners business and funding models
1.1 Application to Dorset
1. Understanding of current and recent historical data on all wastes sub-streams
2. Understand compositional data for the sub-streams
3. Geophysical understanding of DorsetManaged or preserved land, degree of urbanisationBrief overall description of the terrain.
4. Socio-economic understanding of Dorset Population density, economic sectors (input-output data if applicable), Uptake routes for recovered materials and energy, e.g. markets Opportunities for industrial ecology / symbiosis initiatives.
1.1 General approach (part 1)
Digestate granulate
6. ResultsThe analysis includes a narrowing down of the technical opportunities appropriate to the local resource.
Indication of the options that can address Dorset’s sustainability objectives relating to greenhouse gas, cost, recovery rates, secondary impacts or substitution effects, resource efficiency, and, finally, energy, material and food security.
1.1 General approach (part 2)
5. Available InfrastructureCurrent waste management installations
(performance and capacity)Current recycling and material re-processing
facilities and their locationPotential demand for improved recovered materials
Plus collect similar high-relevance data for neighbouring areas
CO2 CH4
1.1 Case study: Increasing value of biogenic waste
The region does not send much biogenic waste to landfill (although there is no breakdown of MSW which will include food waste and water waste mayinclude sludge):
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AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING WASTES
CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT AND COATING OF METALS WASTE
CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTES
CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTES
FURNITURE, PAPER AND CARDBOARD MANUFACTURING WASTES
HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH CARE WASTE
MINE AND QUARRY WASTES
MUNICIPAL WASTES
SHAPING AND PHYSICAL TREATMENT OF METALS AND PLASTICS
THERMAL PROCESSES WASTE
WASTE ABND WATER TREATMENT WASTES
This includesGreen waste : current estimate 0.1m tonnes per annum (tpa)Biogenic fraction of MSW and C&I waste
0.5m tpa of C&I in region, estimate 12% biogenic0.4m tpa of MSW, estimate 30% biogenic
Agricultural waste : current estimate 0.1m tpaWastewater treatment solids : current estimate 0.1m tpaTotal circa 400,000 tpaNote that the organic fraction of waste in the region is estimated at around 180ktpa but this excludes agricultural.
A separate analysis gives a figure of 600,000 tpa as a capacity requirement for non-inert waste.Current destinations7 facilities : 4 x Anaerobic Digestion (AD) and 3 x compostingTotal capacity of about 150,000 tpa (approx 115 kpta composting)Value generation estimate:
composting: £60,000 paAD: £4,000,000 pa
Unknown : value generation per tonne processed = 0Total current value-added = £4.06m [estimate]
1.1 Biogenic waste – current situation
Examples of opportunities arisingfrom more sophisticated approach:Intercept waste at source and optimize end use by type
segregation of all bakery waste and use for animal feed: value > £100/t hydrolysis of green waste and conversion to industrial biotech and chemical feedstock: value added ~ £200/t gasification of sludge, waste wood etc and conversion through fermentation (e.g. Lanzatec process) : value added ~ £200/t Maximise the benefit of AD through integrated nutrient cycling and grid integration
Potential future value-added > £40m pa
Tenfold increase through integrated analysis and new technology!
Upcycling of biogenic waste – systemic opportunities
Resource recovery/upcycling should be designed in a holistic way, so that the product, processes and chain are optimised for a circular economy system, rather than the current approach to bolting-on recycling processes.
We are working on fundamental techniques for supply chain design and applying them to diverse applications, including fluorescent lamps in Korea.
The diagrams alongside show our redesign of a fluorescent lamp recycling network; the optimised network has a 60% reduction in transport energy and emissions.
Benefit of spatial approach : Korean example
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Case study: green waste conversion – integrated bio refinery
The flexible, modular biorefinery
Variety of raw materials
preprocessing
CO2
sink
IBchemical
thermal
Biochar to land
Variety of products
Modular and flexible; can adapt to changing feedstocks over timePilot in Aberystwyth (Beacon project) .....
Example would be MSW → RDF → pyrolysis oil → upgraded pyrolysis oilCould be utilised in Dorset
11.1 Furniture Refurbishment
90,156 tonnes of furniture, paper, cardboard and manufacturing waste per year
Sofas, fridges, cookers, microwaves, dining tables, washing machines
Bulked up in Dorset and sent to other authorities to be treated / turned into new products
Re-use networks offer affordable furniture – successful schemes set up by Hampshire County Council and others
Community social enterprise companies such as TRACO – The Recycled Assets Company
11.1 Furniture Refurbishment
Potential market:
Council tax records indicate 2000 properties occupied by students in Bournemouth
Large numbers of homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs), notably Boscombe East and Winton in Bournemouth
Bournemouth estimated increase in unemployment from 2007-2010
Poor households seek accommodation in lower priced areas such Blandford Forum and parts of Bournemouth
26% households cannot afford houses in current market without subsidies – esp. Bournemouth, lone parents
Adding value to waste products is an idea with great currency
However it is hindered by:-Lack of data-Lack of clear business models-Need to synchronise system/infrastructure and markets
TEST has been set up based on a recognition of these issues
-Spatially-, temporally- and technologically-rich data sets will be included in the platform-Geolocalisation and data fusion will keep the system up to date-Economic and activity models can be used to explore different business models-Benefits can be quantified
1.1 Summary