Modeling of Waste Flow in Industrial Symbiosis System at City-Region Level: A Case Study of Jinchang, China

Abstract

Waste is increasingly used as a renewable resource. Industrial symbiosis is an innovative concept for more efficient use of waste streams within industrial complexes, with the aim of reducing the overall environmental impact of the complex. Industrial symbiosis plays a more important role in promoting green economic growth and building low-carbon cities. Based on the ecological theoretical framework, combined with Waste Flow Analysis (WFA), the material flow analysis (MFA) and production matrix methods were used as the core to construct the Industrial Symbiosis System Waste Flow Metabolism Analysis (ISSWFMA) model. In addition, taking the “Jinchang Model” as an example, a typical case selected by the National Development and Reform Commission of China’s regional circular economy development model, we conducted a refined quantitative study on the flow and metabolism of waste flow in the regional industrial symbiosis system at the City-Region level using the circulation degree index. The following conclusions were obtained from the study: The ISSWFMA model can better describe the flow and metabolism of waste streams in the industrial symbiosis system at the City-Region Level and can provide data and methods for storage management. As the internal industrial chain and the correlation between various departments continuously improved, the Circulation Index (CI) of solid waste, wastewater, and exhaust gas in the industrial symbiosis system of Jinchang City showed an overall increasing trend, the degree of recycling was continuously increasing, the industrial symbiosis ability was continuously enhanced, and the system structure was more complete. At the same time, based on the analysis of different wastes, the industrial symbiosis is developed at different stages; based on the analysis of solid wastes, the industrial symbiosis ability of Jinchang’s Industrial Symbiosis System has strengthened and accelerated the fastest from 2005 to 2010; based on the analysis of wastewater, the industrial symbiosis ability of the system strengthened slowly during the whole study period; and based on the analysis of exhaust gas, the industrial symbiosis ability of the system continued to strengthen rapidly during the whole study period. Finally, on the basis of further discussion on the selection of waste recycling paths, we proposed to give full play to the role of market mechanisms, and to build recycling areas and ecological areas by strengthening industrial symbiosis and its derived urban symbiosis to achieve the goals of natural resource conservation, ecological environment protection, and harmonious coexistence between human and nature.

Unfolding research themes for industrial symbiosis and underlying theories

“…Food‐Web Theory and Supply Chain Theory as supporting theories can contribute to this point. The integration of social and technical systems can incorporate IS in the city and regional‐level metabolisms (Chaker et al, 2021). Socio‐Technical Systems Theory and Material Metabolism Theory are theories with the potential to simulate the waste stream metabolism (Lu et al, 2021). Social aspects dynamics aim at network consolidation by stakeholder engagement and discuss the local success or failure of IS (Morales & Diemer, 2019).…”

The role of industrial symbiosis on consumer demand under ecological carbon fixation: Evidence from the energy industry

“…Hein et al (2017) similarly mentioned that industrial symbiosis enables traditionally independent industries to gain a competitive advantage by way of exchange and cooperation in the production of raw materials, energy, and by-products and analyzed the case of symbiosis of a steam network of waste incinerators in France with the help of the case of symbiosis of a waste incinerator, which was analyzed at the microlevel and found that the government sector can obtain an improvement of its environmental performance in the context of industrial symbiosis. Lu et al (2021) pointed out that China's waste recycling system is characterized by a low level of waste recycling, abundant waste resources, and low efficiency of waste resource utilization and that the closer the interindustry linkage and the better the symbiosis system, the higher the waste recycling efficiency. Some scholars have also studied whether the development of industrial symbiosis can improve the economic situation of industries from the perspective of economic efficiency.…”

Get the win–win: Sustainable circular model of ‘generation-value-technology’ of industrial solid waste management

“…In addition, to better realize the circular flow of ISW generation-transfer-management-reuse, different industries need to achieve effective aggregation, and such ISW technology is called ‘industrial symbiosis’ (Sellitto et al, 2021). ‘Industrial symbiosis’ technology can effectively enhance ISW management technology and reduce ISW management costs, thus promoting ISW recycling while realizing the green circular economy development (Lu et al, 2021). The models constructed by scholars have not been widely considered technology innovation in ISW management, although ISW management technology in industrial enterprises is an important principle.…”