An investigation into the optimisation of organic waste treatment at the University of Leeds
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Chemical and Process Engineering
Abstract
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Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509681/1 | 30/09/2016 | 29/09/2021 | |||
| 1941549 | Studentship | EP/N509681/1 | 30/09/2017 | 31/12/2021 | Nicholas Davison |
| NE/W503125/1 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2022 | |||
| 1941549 | Studentship | NE/W503125/1 | 30/09/2017 | 31/12/2021 | Nicholas Davison |
| Description | Methods have been created for gaining necessary data for the resource assessment, food waste characterising, treatment technology assessment, behavioural change and life cycle assessment parts of the PhD, based on adapting methods established in the literature for use in the context of Indian and UK Universities. This includes carrying out elemental and physical and biochemical assessments of the food waste, biomethane potential tests, survey, interview and focus group conduction, food waste reduction and segregation interventions, as well as life cycle analysis scenarios and methods using GABI software. Behavioural change interventions and resource assessments have been started or have already been carried out in the UK and India, with results currently being analysed. This includes food waste reduction interventions, interventions to increase food waste segregation, pre and post intervention surveys, interviews and focus groups. Initial findings showed that when food waste segregation was set up in a UK University Halls of Residence with 350 catered students, they segregated 2 tonnes of food waste over the course of the year. With interventions this increased food waste segregation by around a third. When conducting surveys, the interventions appear to have increased the awareness and conscientiousness of UK self-catered students in regard to food waste issues. Initial results also seem to show that food waste reduction interventions have led to decreases in food waste production at a UK University canteen by 10-15%, but the research is ongoing. |
| Exploitation Route | The research findings will be able to be used by the academic institutions in which I am researching in order to better inform their food waste management approaches, through improving the food waste treatment strategy, as well as implementing behavioural change strategies to increase food waste segregation in halls of residences, as well as food waste reduction in University canteens. Upon completion of the project it will be possible that other researchers will be able to add to the research by using the same methodology used for assessing the food waste treatment technologies included in the research, to compare other food waste treatment technologies that were not assessed, as well as to look at locations other than India and the UK. At the end of the PhD a methodology will be created for making a decision-making tool for improving food waste management at Universities in the UK and India. Researchers could take the methodology and the initial data collected during the project to develop the decision-making tool. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Education Energy Environment |
| Description | Through carrying out initial assessments on different food waste management approaches, I have been able to advise the sustainability service and residential services at the University of Leeds on how to improve their food waste management approaches. Further to this, I have helped Leeds Beckett University and Trinity Collage Dublin to set up food waste recycling in some of their Halls of Residences. Through carrying out interventions, I have also helped increase food waste segregation and reduce food waste production in a number of Universities in the UK and India, through increasing awareness and education on food waste related issues. I have also met with student sustainability groups in India to offer advice on different ways to reduce food waste production and improve food waste treatment. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal |