An investigation into the optimisation of organic waste treatment at the University of Leeds

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Context of researchThere 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 objectivesThe 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 benefitsThe 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.