Municipal Solid Waste Mass Balance as a Tool for Calculation of the Possibility of Implementing the Circular Economy Concept

Abstract

Municipal waste management system modeling based on the mass balance of individual waste streams allows us to answer the question of how the system will react to organizational changes, e.g., to the expected reduction in the amount of plastics or the introduction of a deposit for glass and/or plastic packaging. Based on the data on Polish municipal solid waste and the forecast of changes in its quantity and composition, as well as demographic data, a balance model was prepared to assess the impact of introducing higher and higher levels of recycling, in accordance with the circular economy assumptions on the waste management system. It has been shown that, for the Polish composition of municipal waste, even if the assumed recycling levels of individual streams are achieved, achieving the general target level of 65% recycling in 2025/30 may not be feasible. The possibility of achieving a higher level of recycling will be possible due the introduction of selective ash collection from individual home furnaces, while the impact of reducing the amount of plastics or introducing a deposit on packaging is minimal. The calculations also showed that, to complete the waste management system in Poland, we need at least 3.5 million Mg/year of incineration processing capacity and the present state (approx. 1.3 million Mg/year) is insufficient.

The Promotive Effect of Cyanobacteria and Chlorella sp. Foliar Biofertilization on Growth and Metabolic Activities of Willow (Salix viminalis L.) Plants as Feedstock Production, Solid Biofuel and Biochar as C Carrier for Fertilizers via Torrefaction Process

“…The presented research and our previous work [26,[67][68][69][70][71] allow us to construct a nutrient circulation scheme in the circular production of Salix viminalis L. as a source of energy fuel in four closed cycles (Figure 6).…”

Towards a Digital Product Passport Fit for Contributing to a Circular Economy

“…Depending on its exact design, it may help companies along the value chain to develop sustainable business models. For instance, Longo et al argue to manufacture batteries and vehicles "with fewer, renewable, recyclable/recycled, and non-hazardous materials and characterized by lower energy and environmental impacts during their life cycle" [10] and Wielgosiński et al call for a reduction of waste streams by having raw materials circulated in the domestic market [11]. To make businesses deliver to these objectives, the obligation to generate high quality product information can be a valuable contribution in a policy mix for an effective circular approach [12].…”

Closing of Carbon Cycle by Waste Gasification for Circular Economy Implementation in Poland

“…Over the past few years, basic and industrial research and development work has been intensified, targeting the possibilities of shifting various industrial sectors from a linear economy to a circular economy [2]. This is shown by the large number of publications in scientific journals that present the results of basic and developmental research [3][4][5][6][7], environmental [8,9], macroeconomic [10,11], social [12][13][14], and political analyses [15][16][17][18][19].…”