Life cycle assessment and net present worth analysis of a community-based food waste treatment system

Ascher, S., Li, W. and You, S. (2020) Life cycle assessment and net present worth analysis of a community-based food waste treatment system. Bioresource Technology, 305, 123076. (doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123076) (PMID:32126483)

Abstract

Food waste management has been a global challenge with significant economic and environmental impacts. A community-based food waste treatment scheme for Glasgow, UK is proposed. The food waste was treated by small-scale wet, mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Biogas was combusted in a combined heat and power plant to generate heat and electricity for each community. 201.39 kWh of electricity and 246.09 kWh of thermal energy could be provided to local communities per tonne of food waste treated. A total of 52,762 tonnes of food waste were produced each year in the city. Net-present worth analysis was employed to evaluate the scheme's economic feasibility. The scheme's environmental impacts were evaluated using life cycle assessment. The entire system saved 92.27 kg CO2-eq. per tonne of food waste treated and had a net-present worth of £ 3.187 million with a carbon tax of 50 £ tonne−1 and a biogas yield of 190 m3 tonne−1.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: You, Dr Siming and Ascher, Mr Simon
• Authors: Ascher, S., Li, W., and You, S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Bioresource Technology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0960-8524
• ISSN (Online): 1873-2976
• Published Online: 24 February 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Bioresource Technology 305:123076
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher