Controversies of justice, scale, and siting: The uneven discourse of renewability in Austrian waste-to-energy development

Behrsin, Ingrid

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2019.101252

Cited by 20 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Reuse of plastic waste for energy recovery through incineration is often adopted as a strategy to conserve landfill space while providing some environmental benefit by offsetting other fossil fuel-based energy production . This approach is concerning, as comprehensive analyses show significant negative impacts in terms of greenhouse gas generation and other environmental factors. , In addition to the global ecosystem effects, the local environmental impacts of these incineration and energy production plants are inequitably distributed, raising concerns of environmental justice. − …”

Section: Sustainable Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Redefining Sustainable Polymers

et al. 2020

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Although Staudinger realized makromoleküles had enormous potential, he likely did not anticipate the consequences of their universal adoption. With 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste now contaminating our land, water, and air, we are facing an environmental and public health crisis. Synthetic polymer chemists can help create a more sustainable future, but are we on the right path to do so? Herein, a comprehensive literature survey reveals that there has been an increased focus on “sustainable polymers” in recent years, but most papers focus on biomass-derived feedstocks. In contrast, there is less focus on polymer end-of-life fates. Moving forward, we suggest an increased emphasis on chemical recycling, which sees value in plastic waste and promotes a closed-loop plastic economy. To help keep us on the path to sustainability, the synthetic polymer community should routinely seek the systems perspective offered by life cycle assessment.

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Section: Sustainable Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Redefining Sustainable Polymers

et al. 2020

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“…It is worth noting that the orientation of Pt particles on the support affects not only the catalyst stability, but also the catalytic performance. 13 C magicangle-spinning (MAS) solid-state (ss)NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory computations suggested that the presence of surface Pt NPs dramatically enhanced the polymer mobility, thus preventing a strong interaction between the polymer and SrTiO 3 support (Figure 5e). Longer PE chains are more preferentially cleaved than shorter ones due to more favorable surface binding with Pt NPs.…”

Section: Degradation Of Waste Plastics Into Value-added Liquid Fuels and Waxesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[6] In addition, unevenly distributed incineration plants can raise concerns of environmental justices. [13] An evolving versatile approach to combat global plastic challenge is tertiary recycling (Chemical recycling). Chemical strategies like glycolysis [14] and pyrolysis [15] have the potential to expand the types of plastics recycled and convert postconsumer polymers into their original monomers, oligomers or new chemical feedstocks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Waste to Wealth: Chemical Recycling and Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics for a Great Future

et al. 2021

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The linear approach to resource utilization has led to the accumulation of waste plastic in the environment for decades. Unfortunately, both traditional mechanical recycling and incineration have faced their bottlenecks that have always resulted in quality deterioration and value recovery failures. Recently, chemical recycling and upcycling processes, including the conversion of plastics into their virgin monomers, liquid fuels, or chemical feedstocks to produce value-added products, have been identified as the most promising strategy for recovering value from waste plastics. However, these methods are often cost prohibitive and relying on stringent conditions compared to current recycling methods. Accordingly, this Minireview summarizes recent trends and achievements in the chemical recycling and upcycling of waste plastics. We highlight three research topics: depolymerization of plastics into monomers; degradation of plastics into liquid fuels and waxes; and conversion of plastics into hydrogen, fine chemical feedstocks, and value-added functional materials. Indeed, chemical recycling and upcycling is a bright path to a circular and environmentally friendly plastic economy.

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“…[32] Presented three approaches of the social science research of renewable energy projects; these are normative, criticism, and critical approaches. [33] The authors say that framing discrepancies between the policy elites and residents represents a reflection of procedural injustice. [34] The authors argued that solar products are celebrated as encouraging development, and there is a limited discourse about the consequences of relying on off-grid solar markets to address energy poverty.…”

Section: Referencementioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability, Sociocultural Challenges, and New Power of Capitalism for Renewable Energy Megaprojects in an Indigenous Mayan Community of Mexico

et al. 2020

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Sustainable development is an integrated blend of energetic, economic, social, environmental, and governmental actors, making it one of the most challenging and subjective aims of the United Nations. A sustainability project that does not consider any of these parameters can generate resistance among different actors of society. In this work, we have demonstrated that the traditional definition of sustainability encompassing economic development, environmental protection, and social justice does not adequately cover large-scale renewable energy projects. We have presented an illuminating case study of solar development in the Yucatan state of Mexico to show that the traditional three-legged stool of sustainable development fails to accommodate local power relations and their role in energy decision-making. This point is made through a substantive and illuminating ethnography of a solar project in the community of San José Tipceh, which involves the importance of energy democracy and understanding power relations in any assessment of sustainable development. These power relations are an important component of sustainable development, and all megaprojects, especially renewable energy projects, require special attention in the governance processes. Through an analysis of an example of implementation of a mega solar project, we argue that the methodology through which the power is exercised is an exercise of great importance because it leads us to a scientific discussion that structures an international reflection on sustainability. The case study consists of mixed methods, including several techniques to deepen the analysis of sociocultural aspects, and tries to present the limits and show the weakness of the sustainability perspective in such megaprojects. It is concluded that environmental justice as a basic element of the new era of renewable energies is limited and can generate social injustices. In the same way, this work shows how power is exercised in the implementation of energy projects and in the absence of equitable comprehensive governance that does not consider the local sociocultural contexts of the communities, resulting in the generation of new powers and permanent conflicts. At the end of this work, a framework to empower local sociocultural contexts for an equitable energy transition is recommended.

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Controversies of justice, scale, and siting: The uneven discourse of renewability in Austrian waste-to-energy development

Cited by 20 publications

References 34 publications

100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Redefining Sustainable Polymers

100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Redefining Sustainable Polymers

Waste to Wealth: Chemical Recycling and Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics for a Great Future

Sustainability, Sociocultural Challenges, and New Power of Capitalism for Renewable Energy Megaprojects in an Indigenous Mayan Community of Mexico

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