To compost or not to compost: Carbon and energy footprints of biodegradable materials’ waste treatment

Hermann, Barbara; Debeer, Lies; Wilde, Bruno De; Blok, Kornelis; Patel, Martin Kumar

doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.12.026

Cited by 224 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In analyzing the uncertainty of LCA, Lanzuela et al [54] reported that there was a large quantitative uncertainty for GWP associated with the integrated management of waste from restaurants and catering in Spain. Furthermore, a high uncertainty for GWP when AD was used for biogas production from defatted algal biomass was also reported by Sillis et al [55], while Hermann et al [56] reported higher global warming emissions for composting instead of for AD.…”

Section: Life Cycle Assessment (Lca)mentioning

confidence: 69%

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Impact from Recycling the Organic Fraction of Solid Waste: Comparison of Different Treatment Schemes from a Life Cycle Perspective

Maria

Sisani

2017

Recycling

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Abstract:The emission of greenhouse gases and the impact from recycling the organic fraction of solid waste were investigated from a life cycle (LCA) perspective. Three different treatment schemes were investigated with the aid of a pilot apparatus including exclusively composting (COMP), integrated solid anaerobic batch not inoculated and post-composting (SADBPC), and an integrated solid anaerobic batch inoculated and post-composting (SADBPC-I). SADBPC-I and SADBPC generated an average of 300 NL/kgVS and 267 NL/kgVS of biogas, respectively. On the other hand, the amount of stabilized organic carbon contained in the organic fertilizer returned by COMP, SADBPC-I, and SADBPC led to a potential of 470 kgCO 2 eq /Mg, 382 kgCO 2 eq /Mg, and 545 kgCO 2 eq /Mg sequestered in soils for each treatment scheme, respectively. The LCA study highlighted that the impact categories most affected were global warming and human toxicity cancer, and on average, the highest impact was detected for COMP.

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Section: Life Cycle Assessment (Lca)mentioning

confidence: 69%

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Impact from Recycling the Organic Fraction of Solid Waste: Comparison of Different Treatment Schemes from a Life Cycle Perspective

Maria

Sisani

2017

Recycling

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“…Compostaje es un tipo de biodegradación aeróbica que da como resultado la formación de gases como CO 2 , CH 4 y N 2 O, compost y agua debido a la metabolización de las bacterias sobre los materiales biodegradables [11].…”

Section: Proceso De Compostaje O Biodegradación Aeróbicaunclassified

“…Además de esta biodegradación, el material también debe haberse liberado durante el proceso de compostaje de su toxicidad y efectos negativos [11,28]. De acuerdo al estándar americano ASTM D6400-04, la biodegradación debe ser de 60 % después de 180 días y se permite que el material contenga una mayor concentración de metales pesados [11,29].…”

Section: Proceso De Compostaje O Biodegradación Aeróbicaunclassified

“…Sin embargo, de acuerdo al estándar ASTM D5988-03 [9] y a la norma NTE INEN 2643:2012 [10], la biodegradabilidad se refiere a la capacidad de ser descompuesto en dióxido de carbono, agua, metano, compuestos inorgánicos o biomasa, debido a acciones enzimáticas de los microorganismos, sin dejar rastro de su composición original [11]. En consecuencia un plástico compostable o biodegradable es aquel que, al ser sometido a condiciones de compostaje, puede ser biodegradado por la acción biológica en dióxido de carbono, agua, compuestos inorgánicos y biomasa.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…En consecuencia un plástico compostable o biodegradable es aquel que, al ser sometido a condiciones de compostaje, puede ser biodegradado por la acción biológica en dióxido de carbono, agua, compuestos inorgánicos y biomasa. Esta sustancia se conoce como humus o compost [11].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

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Estudio comparativo de la compostabilidad de fundas plásticas de PEBD, oxo-biodegradables y de papel distribuidas en el Distrito Metropolitano de Quito

Huang

Streitwieser

2015

Av. Cienc. Ing. (Quito)

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In this study the degradation behavior of different types of commercial T -type bags has been investigated. The bags tested according to their commercial description are: LDPE plastic, oxo-biodegradable plastic and paper. The investigation was performed over a period of 32 weeks under real conditions. The composting essays were inoculated with fresh commercial humus and the humidity was controlled over the complete period, while the temperature was kept at the low mesophilic regime at room temperature, without direct contact to sunlight. The determination of the degradation was based on the analyses of total solids and organic total solids, as well as visual observations. The results show that only the paper bags were biodegraded appropriately, leaving no residue after 32 weeks. While neither the LDPE nor the oxo-biodegradable plastic bags show any signs of disintegration or degradation over the entire period. These results were expected for the LDPE bags, but not for the oxo-biodegradable plastics. As conclusion the low biodegradability of these bags is explained by the fact that even if the bags are commercially distributed as biodegradables, they are normal LDPE bags with an oxo -additive. Actually, according to the definition, they cannot be considered as biodegradable, since they can only be degraded by few microorganisms in a very slow rate. The degradation of their chemical structure occur by the action of heat or ultraviolet light. And since non of these conditions were found during this investigation, the bags suffer no disintegration.Keywords. Oxo-degradable plastics, plastic bags, biodegradable bags, paper bags, composting, biodegradation, compostability. ResumenEn esta investigación se estudia la degradación de los diferentes tipos de fundas comerciales tipo -T. Las fundas investigadas conforme a su descripción comercial son: de plásticos PEBD, de plásticos oxo-biodegradables y de papel. La investigación se realizó durante un periodo de 32 semanas bajo condiciones reales. Los ensayos del compostaje fueron inoculados con humus comercial fresco y la humedad se controló durante el periodo completo, mientras que la temperatura se mantuvo en el bajo régimen mesofílico a temperatura ambiente, sin contacto directo a la luz solar. La determinación de la degradación se basó en los análisis de los sólidos totales y sólidos totales orgánicos, como también observaciones visuales. Los resultados muestran que solo las fundas de papel fueron biodegradadas adecuadamente, al no dejar residuos después de 32 semanas. Mientras que ni las fundas plásticas PEBD ni las oxo-biodegradables mostraron señales de desintegración o degradación durante la investigación. Estos resultados fueron esperados de las fundas PEBD, pero no para las fundas oxo-biodegradables. La baja biodegradabilidad de estas fundas se explica por el hecho de que si bien las fundas son distribuidas como biodegradables, son fundas normales de PEBD con un aditivo pro-oxidante. De acuerdo a la definición de biodegradabilidad, estas fundas no pueden se...

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Bioplastics

Verbeek

Uitto

2017

Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology

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Bioplastic materials have been developed in response to environmental concerns regarding the widespread use of conventional polymers. It is one of the cornerstones in the circular economy approach that is expected to change the way materials and energy are produced and consumed. However, bioplastics still cover less than 1% of total market, and the industry is still in its early stages. A holistic sustainability assessment takes into account the origin of a material, its end‐of‐life destination, as well as social and economic effects; new materials in the market need to improve sustainability but also be cost‐ and performance‐competitive. Biobased polymers have taken the leading role in the market, largely because of total production of bioplastics is expected to increase almost fivefold over the next 5 years. This article provides an up‐to‐date definition of bioplastics, their environmental profile, and contribution to the global economy.

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To compost or not to compost: Carbon and energy footprints of biodegradable materials’ waste treatment

Cited by 224 publications

References 38 publications

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Impact from Recycling the Organic Fraction of Solid Waste: Comparison of Different Treatment Schemes from a Life Cycle Perspective

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Impact from Recycling the Organic Fraction of Solid Waste: Comparison of Different Treatment Schemes from a Life Cycle Perspective

Estudio comparativo de la compostabilidad de fundas plásticas de PEBD, oxo-biodegradables y de papel distribuidas en el Distrito Metropolitano de Quito

Bioplastics

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