Integrating Circular Bioeconomy and Urban Dynamics to Define an Innovative Management of Bio-Waste: The Study Case of Turin

Abstract

Bio-waste could play a fundamental role in reaching the EU target to recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035. The European waste policies and the Green New Deal are increasingly focusing on bio-waste enhancement, in particular within the Bioeconomy Strategy and the Circular Economy Package. Circular bioeconomy (CBE) combines these perspectives, with an increasing focus on organic flows extension and enhancement along the economic cycle. This paper analyses the potential of the CBE paradigm to improve the treatment of the organic fraction of the municipal solid waste (OFMSW), taking the Metropolitan City of Turin (MCT) as a case study. Our results indicate that the currently used OFMSW plant capacity of MCT is insufficient with respect to the need for treatment and, above all, inadequate for future demand trends. We advance an analysis of different CBE-related projects, which contribute to the creation of a feasible environment for bio-based closed loops in Turin. In particular, RePoPP (Porta Palazzo Organic Waste Project) is proposed as an instance of a systemic and circular process that could be improved by following the CBE principles. Through the use of qualitative system dynamics, we propose a decentralised alternative MSW management scenario with a micro anaerobic digestion plant at its core. A stakeholder analysis through a power-interest matrix identifies actors that are key to enabling this scenario. The sustainable pathways proposed in this paper can inspire local-level policy design and therefore contribute to the creation of new systemic food and waste policies for the city through the CBE paradigm.

Sustainability Assessment of Coffee Silverskin Waste Management in the Metropolitan City of Naples (Italy): A Life Cycle Perspective

“…kilogram of non-methane volatile organic compounds equivalent; 10 . kilogram of antimony equivalent; 11 . m 3 of deprived water.…”

“…CE is a paradigm for keeping resources in circulation for as long as possible, through the maximum exploitation of their potential, thereby minimizing waste production [8,9]. Notably, the circular bioeconomy (CBE) represents a novel economic framework, designed to harness renewable natural resources and to reduce waste generation by turning it into valuable products that can replace those from non-renewable sources, like the fossilbased ones [10,11]. Therefore, CBE offers the advantage of providing valuable feedstock for a more decarbonized future [12] without competing with food production [13], and it is expected to make a decisive contribution in the achievement of the targets established in the Paris Agreement and reaffirmed in the Glasgow Climate Pact [14].…”

Future Of Bio-Waste Management in the Context of Developed Countries Legislation

“…With about Nine million tons of separately collected organic garbage included in municipal solid waste, it has firmly taken root at an advanced stage (Bio-waste in the bio bin and green waste). However, it is theoretically feasible to boost collection from two to four million tons (Taffuri, Sciullo, Diemer, & Nedelciu, 2021). There are two collection methods available.…”

Indicators for the Circular City: A Review and a Proposal

“…Percentage of local nutrient recovery % NL [54] Food waste -BE [69] Circular markets -IT, FR, IS [39] Buildings…”