A transition in the Dutch wastewater system? The struggle between discourses and with lock-ins

Abstract

Recently, calls have increased for a paradigm shift or transition towards resource recovery and a circular economy in the Dutch wastewater system. However, we have observed diverging interpretations on the nature of the transition. This reflects the political environment of sustainability transitions: political struggle emerges over the definition of problems, futures and strategies to be used. In order to help clarify the emerging debate and identify political choices, we conducted a discourse analysis. We identified three discourses that reveal some of the political choices to be made. One discourse is becoming dominant and focusses on optimising the large-scale infrastructure, market development and legislative changes. The discourse draws on the existing infrastructure and current politicaleconomic institutions, which gives it an advantage in becoming dominant. Our findings also suggest that this discourse shapes a transition pathway that is characterised by lock-in effects and, at most, incremental changes instead of a fundamental shift in the established Dutch wastewater system.

Life Cycle Assessment of Urine Diversion and Conversion to Fertilizer Products at the City Scale

“…The development of large-scale urine collection and processing systems is still at a conceptual stage. Research is ongoing to understand and address the many challenges of urine diversion, including economic, market and regulatory acceptance, ,,,,,,− potential user error, , risk aversion and lack of confidence in performance, ,, and lock-in to conventional systems. , Irrespective of the urine processing method considered, net benefits were observed for each scenario evaluated. In some cases, the environmental benefits associated with water and wastewater management alone were sufficient to offset the environmental burden associated with urine collection, processing, and transport.…”

Discursive dynamics and lock-ins in socio-technical systems: an overview and a way forward

“…Leipold (2021) argues the circular economy discourse at the European Union "was created to transform EU policy discourses 'from within' but eventually perpetuated the established discourse of ecological modernization" (p. 1). Ampe et al (2019) show how ecological modernization limits the transformational potential of circular strategies and only leaves room for incremental change.…”

Reducing Groundwater Contamination from On-Site Sanitation in Peri-Urban Sub-Saharan Africa: Reviewing Transition Management Attributes towards Implementation of Water Safety Plans

“…An alternative framework for compensating polluting activities could be assessed and recommended for the peri-urban areas depending upon the economic vulnerability of the population. An example of promoting resource recovery approaches to a circular economy in the Dutch wastewater system transition demonstrates a policy shift from "polluter-pays-principle" [108]. In this regard, a WSP process that advocates for resource recovery from the on-site products would be recommended.…”