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
Context of research
There are major knowledge gaps regarding the production and utilisation of organic waste within Cities and the associated climate change impacts and mitigation strategies needed to improve sustainability. This is particularly important to large organisations such as Universities who produce a wide range of waste streams although the amounts of waste generated are often uncertain. There are also, more generally, uncertainties in the emissions generated from waste treatment processes such as composting, anaerobic digestion (AD) and other waste treatment routes for processing organic waste. The treatment of food waste is particularly relevant to large organisations such as the University of Leeds and is generated from refectories and halls of residences. Food waste is currently collected by waste treatment companies (e.g. Olleco) for treatment by anaerobic digestion. Alternative 'at source' treatment of food waste using technologies such as desiccation are capable of reducing the volume & odour of the waste by removing water, increasing the length of time the waste can be stored (which reduces the collection times) and sterilising the waste (which improves sae handling). Despite these advantages, there are uncertainties regarding the energy requirements and emissions associated with large scale use of these technologies and how they would influence waste contracts already in place.
This project will focus on the investigating the life cycle analysis (LCA) of waste collection, processing and utilisation of waste, with a particular focus on food waste. The University of Leeds will be used as a case study to investigate the options for improving sustainability. Technologies will include desiccation, composting, anaerobic digestion and incineration and will assess integrated waste treatment pathways currently being investigated. Industrial links to Olleco, a leading food waste end user will provide current industrial focus. The project will generated experimental evidence from laboratory scale testing of AD, desiccation and composting in combination with data provided by industrial partners to develop an LCA for the different processing options. A sensitivity study will be developed into an active pre-design tool allowing the LCA to be linked with physical models of underlying processes to make it more useful for sensitivity studies in the wider context (from the University to other similar scale and nature institutions.
Aims and objectives
The main aims are i) To ascertain the best waste management option for the University of Leeds out of the aforementioned options. ii) To fill in the abovementioned knowledge gaps. iii) To model the waste management processes iiii) To design an active pre-design tool that could be applied to similar institutions for assessing optimal waste management options.
Potential applications and benefits
The project fills knowledge gaps for key waste management emission areas, which could then be applied for similar LCAs. Further to this, the creation of a pre-design tool can be used for assessing GHG emissions for similar institutions, to improve ease and accuracy for waste management assessments. This will be applied where possible to other integrated waste treatment processes.
There are major knowledge gaps regarding the production and utilisation of organic waste within Cities and the associated climate change impacts and mitigation strategies needed to improve sustainability. This is particularly important to large organisations such as Universities who produce a wide range of waste streams although the amounts of waste generated are often uncertain. There are also, more generally, uncertainties in the emissions generated from waste treatment processes such as composting, anaerobic digestion (AD) and other waste treatment routes for processing organic waste. The treatment of food waste is particularly relevant to large organisations such as the University of Leeds and is generated from refectories and halls of residences. Food waste is currently collected by waste treatment companies (e.g. Olleco) for treatment by anaerobic digestion. Alternative 'at source' treatment of food waste using technologies such as desiccation are capable of reducing the volume & odour of the waste by removing water, increasing the length of time the waste can be stored (which reduces the collection times) and sterilising the waste (which improves sae handling). Despite these advantages, there are uncertainties regarding the energy requirements and emissions associated with large scale use of these technologies and how they would influence waste contracts already in place.
This project will focus on the investigating the life cycle analysis (LCA) of waste collection, processing and utilisation of waste, with a particular focus on food waste. The University of Leeds will be used as a case study to investigate the options for improving sustainability. Technologies will include desiccation, composting, anaerobic digestion and incineration and will assess integrated waste treatment pathways currently being investigated. Industrial links to Olleco, a leading food waste end user will provide current industrial focus. The project will generated experimental evidence from laboratory scale testing of AD, desiccation and composting in combination with data provided by industrial partners to develop an LCA for the different processing options. A sensitivity study will be developed into an active pre-design tool allowing the LCA to be linked with physical models of underlying processes to make it more useful for sensitivity studies in the wider context (from the University to other similar scale and nature institutions.
Aims and objectives
The main aims are i) To ascertain the best waste management option for the University of Leeds out of the aforementioned options. ii) To fill in the abovementioned knowledge gaps. iii) To model the waste management processes iiii) To design an active pre-design tool that could be applied to similar institutions for assessing optimal waste management options.
Potential applications and benefits
The project fills knowledge gaps for key waste management emission areas, which could then be applied for similar LCAs. Further to this, the creation of a pre-design tool can be used for assessing GHG emissions for similar institutions, to improve ease and accuracy for waste management assessments. This will be applied where possible to other integrated waste treatment processes.
| 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 |