Your search found 52 records
1 Amoah, Philip; Gebrezgabher, Solomie; Drechsel, Pay. 2021. Safe and sustainable business models for water reuse in aquaculture in developing countries. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 46p. (Resource Recovery and Reuse Series 20) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.212]
Resource recovery ; Resource management ; Water reuse ; Wastewater aquaculture ; Business models ; Sustainability ; Developing countries ; Wastewater treatment ; Fishery production ; Integrated systems ; Infrastructure ; Treatment plants ; Stabilization ponds ; Public-private partnerships ; Nongovernmental organizations ; Markets ; Fisheries value chains ; Financial analysis ; Circular economy ; Cost recovery ; Fish feeding ; Nutrients ; Food safety ; Water quality ; Public health ; Risk assessment ; Socioeconomic impact ; Environmental impact ; Case studies / Ghana / Bangladesh / Kumasi / Mirzapur
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H050557)
(1.42 MB)
Wastewater-fed aquaculture has a long history, especially in Asia. This report examines three empirical cases of integrated wastewater treatment and aquaculture production. From an aquaculture entrepreneur’s perspective, the combination of fish farming and wastewater treatment in common waste stabilization ponds allows significant savings on capital (pond infrastructure) and running costs (wastewater supporting fish feed). On the other hand, the treatment plant owner will have the benefit of a partner taking over plant maintenance. Given the importance of food safety and related perceptions, the report is focusing on innovative business models where the marketed fish is not in direct contact with the treated wastewater, but only the brood stock or fish feed. The financial analysis of the presented systems shows profitable options for the fish farmer, operational and in part capital cost recovery for the treatment plant, and as the treatment plant operators can stop charging households a sanitation fee, eventually a triple-win situation for both partners and the served community.
2 Alba-Patino, D.; Carabassa, V.; Castro, H.; Gutierrez-Briceno, I.; García-Llorente, M.; Giagnocavo, C.; Gomez-Tenorio, M.; Cabello, J.; Aznar-Sanchez, J. A.; Castro, A. J. 2021. Social indicators of ecosystem restoration for enhancing human wellbeing. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 174:105782. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105782]
Ecological restoration ; Ecosystem services ; Social indicators ; Circular economy ; Natural capital ; Agroecology ; Sustainability ; Semiarid zones ; Biodiversity ; Vulnerability ; Policies / Spain / Almeria / Los Velez
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050558)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344921003918/pdfft?md5=bcd17722a22ba4ce21563172901f4263&pid=1-s2.0-S0921344921003918-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050558.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050558.pdf
(2.75 MB) (2.75 MB)
This study implements the ecosystem service framework to link the concepts of farming activity and ecosystem restoration within the circular economy. It proposes a method for identifying social indicators of ecosystem restoration that can be taken into account in the transition towards more circular and sustainable agricultural systems. Using a case study located in semi-arid Mediterranean landscapes, we conducted a social sampling with 350 respondents to explore how an almond tree restoration changes perceptions and preferences for ecosystem services, and how these socio-ecological changes translate into indicators of natural capital and human wellbeing. Results not only indicated that the almond tree restoration induced changes in people´s preferences and perceptions for ecosystem services, such as an increase in ecosystem service diversity (i.e., local identity and erosion control), but they also demonstrated how the social and cultural benefits associated to ecosystem services can be used as indicators of human well-being (i.e., human health and access to goods). We suggest that the inclusion of social indicators of ecosystem restoration must be included in policies and initiatives for a transition to circular economy, and to achieve the challenges of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
3 Echeverria, J. M. A. 2021. Plan B water assessment: efficiency and circularity for agricultural and municipal adaptation to water scarcity. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 14:100602. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2021.100602]
Water resources ; Assessment ; Water scarcity ; Urban areas ; Agriculture ; Water use efficiency ; Water management ; Circular economy ; Water table ; Groundwater ; Water extraction ; Water supply ; Water loss ; Aquifers ; Wells ; Ecosystems ; Surface water ; Sewage ; Models ; Sustainability / Colombia / Morroa Aquifer
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050566)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352801X2100059X/pdfft?md5=7c5df40a60d2621459bcaf1a7b29ef9d&pid=1-s2.0-S2352801X2100059X-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050566.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050566.pdf
(15.70 MB) (15.7 MB)
Municipal supply of water under climate variations, growing population, uncertainty, and scarcity, requires water planners to devise feasible and sustainable water sourcing plans; especially for territories relying on groundwater. The conventional ways to cope with water scarcity will no longer guarantee reaping the maximum benefits of declining available water resources. Efficiency and circularity of water are claimed as essential criteria for seeking solutions in designing long-term supply management. A Plan B water assessment applied to a group of municipalities in dry areas of Colombia, is proposed as a hydro-economic model aimed at providing inputs for water resources planning, in which the depletable and common-pool character of aquifers are incorporated. A declination speed index is introduced in two ways: the surface water table distance and water table saturated thickness distance. This issue should not be overlooked if spatial differentiation in water tables is incorporated in groundwater extraction permits analysis for multiple and convergent water users. Research results are promising for sustainability of water management in dry areas around the world. Respect to status quo situation a 22% of efficiency gain might be achieved in the next 20 years in Sucre – Colombia, under an efficient model of water consumption. If an efficient and circular water management model is endeavored, multiple gains would be harvested for the benefit of water users and ecosystems relying on aquifers. Increased efficiency is mostly driven by 30 million m3 sewage water recirculated in agriculture, which in turn would prevent aquifer extraction for this activity. In business-as-usual scheme, water efficiency gap will be wider; extraction costs will rise to prohibitive levels for low income municipalities; the declining water tables will oblige to make new punches by simultaneous water users and water declination index calculated would reflect a precipitous decay. Research results provide empirical evidence to the discussion on possible solutions for sustainable and efficient water management as stated in Sustainable Development Goals; specifically target goal 6.4 determines that water efficiency and sustainability in water withdrawals should be accomplished. Local setting on water resources availability, competition on resources, types of users, sewage water treatment technology, energy costs, and institutions in time and place, would determine the replicability of research results.
4 Mansour, G.; Darteh, B.; Jabagi, E.; Nikiema, Josiane; Cofie, Olufunke. 2021. Supporting enterprises in capturing waste value: lessons learned from the CapVal sanitation project in Ghana. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 39p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.221]
Business models ; Circular economy ; Urban areas ; Waste management ; Wastewater treatment ; Solid wastes ; Waste treatment ; Faecal sludge ; Sawdust ; Agricultural wastes ; Urban wastes ; Urban agriculture ; Urban development ; Energy generation ; Forestry ; Composting ; Briquettes ; Aquaculture ; Public-private partnerships ; Stakeholders ; Product certification ; Project implementation ; Land acquisitions ; Marketing ; Employment / Ghana / Eastern Region / Somanya / Akorley
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050664)
(2.34 MB)
5 Taron, Avinandan; Drechsel, Pay; Gebrezgabher, Solomie. 2021. Gender dimensions of solid and liquid waste management for reuse in agriculture in Asia and Africa. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 33p. (Resource Recovery and Reuse Series 21) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.223]
Resource recovery ; Resource management ; Water reuse ; Gender equity ; Social equality ; Waste management ; Solid wastes ; Liquid wastes ; Agricultural value chains ; Circular economy ; Business models ; Women's participation ; Urban wastes ; Household wastes ; Faecal sludge ; Waste collection ; Recycling ; Wastewater treatment ; Organic wastes ; Composting ; Wastewater irrigation ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Health hazards ; Sanitation ; Community involvement ; Social marketing ; Entrepreneurs ; Farmers / Asia / Africa / India / Indonesia / Philippines / Vietnam / Nepal / Ghana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H050720)
(978 KB)
This report examines social equality aspects related to resource recovery through solid waste composting and wastewater irrigation. The report shows that women are represented in greatest numbers at the base of the recycling chain, most often as informal waste pickers and as sorters of recyclables with limited access to resources and upward mobility. Despite a wide gender gap in the solid waste and sanitation sectors, women play a key role in both municipal waste reduction and food safety where irrigation water is unsafe. Analyzing the gender dimension is important for understanding household responses to recycling programs, differences between the formal and informal sectors as well as along the waste-to-resource value chain from collection to treatment and reuse. The report stresses the important role of women in household waste management, including waste segregation, and the power of women-dominated waste picker associations, where the informal sector plays an essential role alongside the formal sector.
6 Roy, E. D.; Esham, M.; Jayathilake, Nilanthi; Otoo, M.; Koliba, C.; Wijethunga, I. B.; Fein-Cole, M. J. 2021. Compost quality and markets are pivotal for sustainability in circular food-nutrient systems: a case study of Sri Lanka. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5:748391. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.748391]
Composting ; Product quality ; Markets ; Food systems ; Nutrients ; Sustainability ; Circular economy ; Urban wastes ; Solid wastes ; Food wastes ; Waste management ; Biodegradable products ; Organic fertilizers ; Standards ; Policies ; Stakeholders ; Economic aspects ; Social aspects ; Case studies / Sri Lanka / Colombo / Galle / Gampaha / Kalutara / Ratnapura
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050801)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.748391/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050801.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050801.pdf
(5.54 MB) (5.54 MB)
Sustainable management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a critical issue around the world, especially in South Asia where waste generation is expected to double by 2050. Closing the food-nutrient cycle through composting biodegradable MSW has the potential to meet human needs, including sanitation and food security, while protecting the environment. We use an interdisciplinary case study approach including systems thinking to assess Sri Lanka’s national MSW composting system, which primarily receives residential and commercial food waste. We embed quantitative compost quality analysis and interviews at 20 composting facilities within a broader qualitative assessment informed by ~60 stakeholders in total. This approach yields insights on how institutional, economic, social, and biophysical aspects of the system are interrelated, and how challenges and solutions can create undesirable and desirable cascading effects, respectively. Such dynamics can create risks of composting facility failure and unintended consequences, diminishing the chances of achieving a sustainable circular food–nutrient system. Compost quality, which was variable, plays a pivotal role within the system—a function of program design and implementation, as well as a determinant of value capture in a circular economy. We make several recommendations to inform future efforts to sustainably manage biodegradable MSW using composting, drawing on our case study of Sri Lanka and prior case studies from other nations. Key among these is the need for increased emphasis on compost product quality and markets in policy and program design and implementation. Targeted measures are needed to improve waste separation, boost compost quality, effectively use compost standards, encourage compost market development, ringfence the revenues generated at municipal compost plants, and identify efficient modes of compost distribution. Such measures require adequate space and infrastructure for composting, resource investment, local expertise to guide effective system management, strong links with the agriculture sector, and continued political support.
7 International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2021. Circular economy solutions to close water, energy and food loops in West Africa. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 4p. (IWMI Water Issue Brief 17) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.222]
Circular economy ; Waste management ; Wastewater ; Energy generation ; Food security ; Resource recovery ; Reuse ; Business models ; Solid wastes ; Faecal sludge ; Organic fertilizers ; Aquaculture ; Ponds ; Public-private partnerships ; Capacity development ; Donors ; Sustainability ; Socioeconomic impact ; Health hazards ; Sanitation ; Urban areas / West Africa / Ghana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050808)
(1.70 MB)
8 Ezeudu, O. B.; Ezeudu, T. S.; Ugochukwu, U. C.; Agunwamba, J. C.; Oraelosi, T. C. 2021. Enablers and barriers to implementation of circular economy in solid waste valorization: the case of urban markets in Anambra, Southeast Nigeria. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 12:100150. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2021.100150]
Waste management ; Solid wastes ; Circular economy ; Waste disposal ; Resource recovery ; Recycling ; Developing countries ; Urban development ; Markets ; Policies ; Public health ; Institutions / Nigeria / Anambra
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050771)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665972721000519/pdfft?md5=19ee9628a2a887deff19b211cd56a303&pid=1-s2.0-S2665972721000519-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050771.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050771.pdf
(2.46 MB) (2.46 MB)
The circular economy (CE) is one of the most recent approaches being adopted around the world to tackle waste management issues. Recent research efforts have shown that developed locations of the world are at the forefront in adopting and implementing the circularity model, while it is entirely a new concept to most of the low and middle-income countries. The current work studies solid waste management practices in urban markets in Anambra State, south-east Nigeria with the motive to critically analyze the enablers and barriers to the CE introduction in the sector. Data supporting the analysis were collected through interviews, documented evidence (literature), and participatory field observation. The analysis of the data conducted with the strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) matrix analysis supplemented by grounded analysis, rightly shows that informal recycling/resource recovery activities, waste management policies, and functional institutions are in place in the markets, thereby likely to serve as internal enablers to the implementation of the CE in the markets. The absence of state-of-the-art waste disposal facilities such as engineered landfills, incinerators, and anaerobic digestions plants are external barriers to optimal implementation of CE in the urban markets. The current study, however, makes further recommendations on the way forward.
9 Arora, M.; Yeow, L. W.; Cheah, L.; Derrible, S. 2022. Assessing water circularity in cities: methodological framework with a case study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 178:106042. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.106042]
Water management ; Circular economy ; Urban areas ; Towns ; Water metabolism ; Water reuse ; Wastewater treatment ; Recycling ; Infrastructure ; Water policies ; Frameworks ; Water demand ; Water quality ; Industrial water use ; Water flow ; Indicators ; Anthropogenic factors ; Case studies / Singapore
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050868)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344921006509/pdfft?md5=b57146cb10184ac126e74224496d794b&pid=1-s2.0-S0921344921006509-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050868.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050868.pdf
(1.51 MB) (1.51 MB)
With significant efforts made to consider water reuse in cities, a robust and replicable framework is needed to quantify the degree of urban water circularity and its impacts from a systems perspective. A quantitative urban water circularity framework can benchmark the progress and compare the impacts of water circularity policies across cities. In that pursuit, we bring together concepts of resource circularity and material flow analysis (MFA) to develop a demand- and discharge-driven water circularity assessment framework for cities. The framework integrates anthropogenic water flow data based on the water demand in an urban system and treated wastewater discharge for primary water demand substitution. Leveraging the water mass balance, we apply the framework in evaluating the state of water circularity in Singapore from 2015 to 2019. Overall, water circularity has been steadily increasing, with 24.9% of total water demand fulfilled by secondary flows in 2019, potentially reaching 39.6% at maximum water recycling capacity. Finally, we discuss the wider implications of water circularity assessments for energy, the environment, and urban water infrastructure and policy. Overall, this study provides a quantitative tool to assess the scale of water circularity within engineered urban water infrastructure and its application to develop macro-level water systems planning and policy insights.
10 Bakan, B.; Bernet, N.; Bouchez, T.; Boutrou, R.; Choubert, J.-M.; Dabert, P.; Duquennoi, C.; Ferraro, V.; Garcia-Bernet, D.; Gillot, S.; Mery, J.; Remond, C.; Steyer, J.-P.; Trably, E.; Tremier, A. 2022. Circular economy applied to organic residues and wastewater: research challenges. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 13(2):1267-1276. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-021-01549-0]
Circular economy ; Organic residues ; Wastewater ; Research ; Biotechnology ; Bioeconomy ; Waste management ; Treatment plants ; Sustainability ; Innovation ; Legislation ; Biomass
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050882)
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12649-021-01549-0.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050882.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050882.pdf
(0.98 MB) (0.98 MB)
To move today’s agricultural and urban systems towards tomorrow’s circular economy and respond to climate change, it is imperative to turn organic residues and wastewater into resourceful assets. This article discusses the changes that are needed in research to drive this paradigm shift and to go from a “losses and waste” situation to a “resource and opportunities” ambition. The current lines of research aim to maximise the use and value of biomass or organic residues and wastewater and propose new organisational schemes driven by technical innovations. Exploring the pathways to a sustainable future through many domains let us identify five challenges to structure the research efforts and find circular bioeconomy solutions for organic residues and wastewater: (1) proposing innovative processes and integrated multi-process systems; (2) promoting the emergence of multi-scale and cross-sectoral organisations; (3) developing multi-performance evaluation methods, (4) rethinking research–society intersections, and (5) enhancing research–legislation interactions. We end by outlining prospects for moving forward past current limitations: beyond increasing knowledge, research will continue its own transition. Our responsibility today is not to think about what we could do for a better world but what we should do to make our ever-changing world even better and more sustainable.
11 Bellver-Domingo, A.; Hernandez-Sancho, F. 2022. Circular economy and payment for ecosystem services: a framework proposal based on water reuse. Journal of Environmental Management, 305:114416. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114416]
Circular economy ; Payments for ecosystem services ; Water reuse ; Frameworks ; Wastewater treatment plants ; Hydrological cycle ; Pollutants ; Pharmaceutical pollution ; Water quality ; Environmental impact ; Legislation ; Political aspects ; Stakeholders / Spain / Valencian Community
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050891)
(3.72 MB)
Water scarcity forces the use of non-conventional water sources, to satisfy water demand, such as the effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Water reuse helps to close the urban water cycle and reduce pressure on available water resources, providing a bases for circular economy in the water sector. Under an ecosystem services (ES) point of view, if water reuse is considered the best management option in water scarcity areas, WWTPs are responsible for the ES of provisioning. One of the main requirements for the ES of provisioning is to guarantee the reclaimed water quality due to this water being discharged back into the ecosystem. Hence why removing pollutants, such as pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), is necessary to reduce the environmental impact of reused water. Considering the lack of legislation about PPCPs in effluents, this study proposes the use of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) approach as an innovative solution to provide reclaimed water without PPCPs considering both the environmental and institutional context and the importance of WWTPs as non-conventional water sources. This study contributes to consider the PES as a water cycle management tool and its suitability to be used to remove PPCPs is highlighted, with the purpose of promoting water reuse in water scarcity areas under circular economy approach.
12 Petrik, L. F.; Ngo, H. H.; Varjani, S.; Osseweijer, P.; Xevgenos, D.; van Loosdrecht, M.; Smol, M.; Yang, X.; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier. 2022. From wastewater to resource. One Earth, 5(2):122-125. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.01.011]
Wastewater treatment ; Resource recovery ; Waste management ; Circular economy ; Water reuse ; Technology ; Water pollution ; Carbon ; Food production ; Phosphorus ; Urban areas
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050957)
(0.90 MB)
Eighty percent of wastewater is left untreated or not reused, exacerbating the water quality challenge, especially in vulnerable communities. This Voices asks: how can we improve wastewater management and convert wastewater into a resource?
13 van Zyl, A.; Jooste, J. L. 2022. Retaining and recycling water to address water scarcity in the city of Cape Town. Development Southern Africa, 39(2):108-125. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2020.1801387]
Water scarcity ; Recycling ; Circular economy ; Policies ; Wastewater treatment ; Water management ; Urban areas ; Water systems ; Water availability ; Water shortage ; Water supply ; Water demand ; Water stress ; Rainwater harvesting ; Modelling / South Africa / Cape Town
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050982)
(2.20 MB)
Conventional water management strategies, where water is extracted, used and then disposed of are no longer enough to address water shortage in cities. Climate change, population growth and economic development are putting available water resources under pressure. A system dynamics model of the City of Cape Town’s water system serves as a case study to evaluate policy interventions, aimed at extracting value from retainable and recyclable water sources to address the growing water shortage experienced in cities. Retention of rainwater, the reuse of greywater and the treatment of wastewater for reuse, are identified as potential water sources. The results provide insight into the behavioural response of the water system, by evaluating the water supply stress and cost of policy interventions related to these alternative sources. It is concluded that only a combination of conservation management and water retention and recycling will reduce water stress over the long term.
14 Jayathilake, Nilanthi; Aheeyar, Mohamed; Drechsel, Pay. 2022. Food waste to livestock feed: prospects and challenges for swine farming in peri-urban Sri Lanka. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2(4):1301-1315. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00168-8]
Food wastes ; Livestock feed ; Swine feeding ; Piggeries ; Periurban areas ; Circular economy ; Recycling ; Reuse ; Regulations ; Biosafety ; Business models ; Food security ; Farmers / Sri Lanka / Western Province / Colombo / Gampaha / Kalutara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051036)
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s43615-022-00168-8.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051036.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051036.pdf
(0.73 MB) (749 KB)
Using farm animals for their natural capability of “recycling” food waste (FW) that is unfit for direct human consumption can support a circular economy as shown in the case of Sri Lanka’s Western Province. The reuse of organic residues including FW as animal feed is a traditional agricultural practice in Sri Lanka but is less studied within an urban FW context. A survey of piggeries using FW in and around the rapidly urbanizing city of Colombo showed that FW is a major feed source in the farms accounting for on average 82% of total feed. About 40% of the farms collected the FW mainly from hotels, restaurants, and institutional canteens. Urban FW is supplied to farmers free of charge when collected directly from the sources, although 26% of the farmers collected FW via intermediaries against a fee. As FW is collected daily, the restaurants appreciate the reliable service, the farmers the low-cost feed, and the municipality the reduced FW volumes to be collected. However, this triple-win situation encounters challenges such as (tourist related) seasonal low supply, which was exacerbated under the Covid-19 lockdown of food services. Another area of concern refers to biosafety. Although the large majority of interviewed farmers boil FW which contains raw meat or fish, there is a paucity of related guidelines and control. Given the benefits of FW use, it is worthwhile to explore how far these informal partnerships could be scaled without increasing transport costs for farmers, while introducing biosafety monitoring. For now, the regulatory environment is highly siloed and does not support material transitions across sector boundaries towards a circular economy.
15 Nguyen, M. D.; Thomas, M.; Surapaneni, A.; Moon, E. M.; Milne, A. N. 2022. Beneficial reuse of water treatment sludge in the context of circular economy. Environmental Technology and Innovation, 28:102651. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2022.102651]
Water reuse ; Wastewater treatment ; Sludge ; Circular economy ; Recycling ; Recovery ; Drinking water treatment ; Landfills ; Heavy metals ; Water quality
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051188)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352186422001997/pdfft?md5=efca8178a17990d7acd551009085602d&pid=1-s2.0-S2352186422001997-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051188.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051188.pdf
(0.41 MB) (420 KB)
Water treatment processes produce large volumes of drinking water that must meet regulatory quality requirements. In the process of so doing, the treatment of water generates large volumes of ‘alum sludge’; a by-product typically considered a waste and disposed to landfill. However, reductions in access to landfill sites, increased disposal costs, and concepts of achieving zero-waste are spurring different approaches to sludge management and disposal. Principles of Circular Economy that seek to promote regenerative design, eliminating waste and continual use of resources, are becoming increasingly important for water authorities. This paper comprehensively reviews the general properties of water treatment sludge, contemporary disposal practices, and its sustainable resource management, including sludge reuse, recycling, and recovery options. The paper also discusses potential social, economic and environmental benefits and barriers of implementing sustainable resource management with water treatment sludge in the context of the Circular Economy. Future research opportunities are discussed with a focus on promoting sustainable management practices where water treatment sludge is considered a value-add resource.
16 Khan, F.; Ali, Y. 2022. Moving towards a sustainable circular bio-economy in the agriculture sector of a developing country. Ecological Economics, 196:107402. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107402]
Circular economy ; Bioeconomy ; Sustainability ; Waste management ; Developing countries ; Agricultural wastes ; Recycling ; Biomass ; Biofertilizers ; Anaerobic treatment ; Decision making ; Models / Pakistan
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051198)
(1.19 MB)
To achieve higher standards of sustainability, Pakistan has to shift towards the adoption of the Circular Bio-Economy (CBE) approach in its agriculture sector. However, to aid this transition, the determination of a sustainable waste management technology and supporting strategies is very essential. For this purpose, a hybrid methodology based on fuzzy Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) and fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is developed. The fuzzy approach used in both the cases is to address any sort of ambiguity during the decision-making process. From the fuzzy SWOT analysis, the decision-makers allocated the most importance to the “ease of adoption” criteria, among the list of internal factors. Whereas, from the list of external factors, the most importance was allocated to the “price competitiveness with respect to fossil feedstock” criteria. Also, composting and anaerobic digestion are considered to be the most sustainable technologies for valorizing the agricultural waste of Pakistan. However, composting showcases more opportunities for its adoption as compared to anaerobic digestion. Whereas, results from fuzzy TOPSIS suggest the provision of financial support to both the local farmers and investors to be the top-ranked strategy for the successful implementation of the CBE approach.
17 Renfrew, D.; Vasilaki, V.; McLeod, A.; Lake, A.; Danishvar, S.; Katsou, E. 2022. Where is the greatest potential for resource recovery in wastewater treatment plants? Water Research, 220:118673. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.118673]
Wastewater treatment plants ; Resource recovery ; Circular economy ; Technology ; Sludge ; Decision making ; Markets ; Strategies ; Sensitivity analysis ; Farmland ; Carbon ; Models / UK
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051217)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135422006261/pdfft?md5=93606c800f4331b3bb2c65d9629ad970&pid=1-s2.0-S0043135422006261-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051217.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051217.pdf
(2.56 MB) (2.56 MB)
The restorative and regenerative ability of the circular economy has led to the rapid growth of this concept over the past decade, as it facilitates the broadly adopted principles of sustainable development and beyond, through restorative and regenerative actions. The water sector is poised to benefit from this transition, due to its intrinsic circularity and the resources it handles, predominantly found in wastewater, that are valuable and critical. Currently, the vast range of resource recovery technologies coupled with few industrial examples hinder strategic decision making. Resource recovery on a regional scale improves market share and mitigates investment risk, therefore, a structured approach has been developed for the selection of priority technologies to act as a guide for strategic planning. A representative UK wastewater model acts as the baseline, with multi-criteria analysis used to select resources and create an enhanced resource recovery scenario. It was found that implementing the recovery of 5 ‘priority resources’ (and technology pathways) increased nitrogen and phosphorus recovery by 68% and 71%, respectively. Lastly, the need for a cross-cutting approach for the holistic assessment of circular solutions is discussed.
18 Nika, C. E.; Vasilaki, V.; Renfrew, D.; Danishvar, M.; Echchelh, A.; Katsou, E. 2022. Assessing circularity of multi-sectoral systems under the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus. Water Research, 221:118842. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.118842]
Water ; Energy generation ; Foods ; Ecosystem services ; Nexus approaches ; Circular economy ; Indicators ; Nature-based solutions ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Wastewater treatment plants ; Recycling ; Agroforestry ; Biodiversity ; Assessment
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051291)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135422007916/pdfft?md5=8dd5f636bf2540c96fefdbc97c881393&pid=1-s2.0-S0043135422007916-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051291.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051291.pdf
(4.66 MB) (4.66 MB)
The Multi-Sectoral Water Circularity Assessment (MSWCA) is a methodological framework developed for circularity assessment of the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems nexus. It involves five methodological steps and includes an indicators list for the selection of case-specific indicators. This study expands the MSWCA to provide a systematic approach for selecting indicators, considering system's circular actions and multi-functionality, the capture of implemented changes, the three CE principles and the sustainable development goals. Furthermore, this study differentiates between benchmark and dynamic circularity assessment and applies the expanded MSWCA in a water system of the HYDROUSA H2020 project. The benchmark assessment indicates that the HYDROUSA system achieves a 75% increase of water circularity, 76–80% increase of nutrients circularity and 14% reduction of operational `carbon footprint compared to the baseline scenario. The dynamic assessment highlights that additional measures can improve the system's circularity performance (e.g. water circularity can reach 94%) and mitigate risks occurring from uncontrollable changes.
19 Simon, D.; Fauzi, D.; Drechsel, Pay; Melati, K.; Prain, G.; Jintarith, P.; Cavalleri, S. A. E.; Kangogo, D.; Osborne, M. 2022. Food waste minimization and circularity for optimizing urban food system resilience. Indonesia: Think20 (T20). Task Force 4 - Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture. 18p.
Food wastes ; Food losses ; Waste reduction ; Urban agriculture ; Peri-urban agriculture ; Food systems ; Resilience ; Circular economy ; Food security ; Food supply ; Waste management ; Reuse ; Behavioural changes ; Strategies ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Partnerships ; Policies
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051373)
https://www.t20indonesia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Food-waste-minimization-and-circularity-for-optimizing-urban-food-system-resilience_TF4.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051373.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051373.pdf
(1.37 MB) (1.37 MB)
As urbanization increases, meeting the challenges of urban food supply and food security requires coherent and holistic strategies. Attention too often focuses solely on best practices without addressing the required behavior change. This policy brief highlights the importance of minimizing food loss and waste, which accounts for some 30% of current global production, in order to link and achieve SDGs 2, 11 and 12. The strategy comprises four interrelated elements, namely adopting holistic and circular planning perspectives; facilitating urban and peri-urban farming; integrating innovative behavioral interventions; and providing enabling environments. The G20 has the capacity to act rapidly, without the need for major capital investment, thereby also providing leadership to the entire international community.
20 Behera, B.; Selvam, S. M.; Balasubramanian, P. 2022. Hydrothermal processing of microalgal biomass: circular bio-economy perspectives for addressing food-water-energy nexus. Bioresource Technology, 359:127443. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127443]
Biomass ; Hydrothermal activity ; Circular economy ; Bioeconomy ; Foods ; Water ; Energy recovery ; Nexus approaches ; Thermochemical processes ; Technology ; Sustainability ; Biochemical processes ; Environmental impact ; Wastewater treatment ; Feedstocks ; Biofuels ; Greenhouse gas emissions
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051331)
(1.95 MB)
Hydrothermal processing of microalgae is regarded as a promising technology to generate multitude of energy based and value-added products. The niche of hydrothermal technologies is still under infancy in terms of the technical discrepancies related to research and development. Thus, the present review critically surveyed the recent advancements linked to the influencing factors governing the algal hydrothermal processing in terms of the product yield and quality. The sustainability of hydrothermal technologies as a standalone method and in broader aspects of circular bio-based economy for energy and value-added platform chemicals are comprehensively discussed. Process optimization and strategic integration of technologies has been suggested to improve efficiency, with reduced energy usage and environmental impacts for addressing the energy-food-water supply chains. Within the wider economic transition and sustainability debate, the knowledge gaps identified and the research hotspots fostering future perspective solutions proposed herewith would facilitate its real-time implementation.
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