Life cycle assessment of the food waste management with a focus on the collection bag

Abstract

The organic fraction (mainly food waste) is typically the most abundant of the separately collected waste streams. The research aims at investigating the influence of different types of collection bag on the environmental performances of the food waste management chain in Italy. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) between two alternative systems based on paper or bioplastic collection bags was carried out. It included the collection bags manufacturing and distribution, their use at the household, the transportation of collected food waste and its subsequent anaerobic digestion, including the valorisation of useful outputs and the management of residues. The two systems were modelled mainly with primary data related to the current management system and to tests performed on bags. The LCA was performed with two different modelling approaches applied in the environmental product declaration (EPD) system and in the product environmental footprint (PEF) studies, respectively. In the scenario representing the average conditions, higher environmental impacts are shown by the use of bioplastic bags compared to paper ones with the EPD approach (+257%/+576%). With the PEF approach, the differences between the two systems are lower (−55%/+133%). Moreover, paper bags could allow for further impact reductions assuming a decrease of the food waste collection frequency, allowed by higher weight losses and a lower generation of leachate and odour during the household storage.

The Use of a Simplified Carbon Footprint Tool for Organic Waste Managers: Pros and Cons

“…A simulation using improvement scenarios could also be useful for a company's strategic purposes, e.g., when comparing various types of bags for the OFMSW collection. In a recent study authored by Dolci et al [65], who conducted a comparative LCA of food waste management with different types of collection bags, paper bags have shown interesting results compared to biodegradable plastic bags.…”

Review on food waste valorisation for bioplastic production towards a circular economy: sustainable approaches and biodegradability assessment

“…The creation of bioplastics using altered microbes is currently being done through genetic engineering procedures. 59 To develop effective bioplastic producers, genomic approaches such as genome-wide transposon mutagenesis of various bacteria are used. For increased lactic acid production, the d -lactate dehydrogenase gene from Lactobacillus acetotolerans is recombined into E. coli .…”

Closing the Carbon Loop in the Circular Plastics Economy

“…Depending on the local energy mix and recycling capabilities, several other studies state clear advantages of PE bags compared to paper. [190][191][192][193] However, most LCA studies on the environmental impact of carrier bags do not consider the contributions of littering. More research is needed to refine the LCA, by including additional variables, and to sharpen the LCA tool used in decision-making processes.…”

“…[303] Several LCA studies compared PLA and starch with PE. [133,190,192,194,[304][305][306][307][308][309][310][311][312][313][314][315][316][317][318] As stated by Walker and Rothman in their critical survey on the significance of comparative LCAs of fossil-and bio-based plastics, the use of different methods and the absence of uniform standards account for significant variations between different studies even of the same polymer; no plastic type is conclusively declared as having the lowest environmental impact. [311] Hottle, Bilec, and Landis reviewed published LCAs and commonly used LCA databases quantifying environmental impacts for PLA, PHA, thermoplastic starch, and five common petroleum-derived polymers from their raw materials extraction (cradle) to their end of life (grave).…”