Preliminary techno-economic analysis of three typical decentralized composting technologies treating rural kitchen waste: a case study in China

doi:10.1007/s11783-023-1647-7

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2023, Vol. 17

Issue (4) : 47 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1647-7

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Preliminary techno-economic analysis of three typical decentralized composting technologies treating rural kitchen waste: a case study in China

Haoshu Wang^1,², Yong Qin^1,²(

), Liqing Xin^1,², Changxun Zhao^1,², Zhuang Ma³, Jian Hu³, Weixiang Wu^1,²

¹. Institute of Environment Science and Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
². Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety Technology, Hangzhou 310058, China
³. Zhejiang Transper Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310058, China

Download: PDF(2043 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

● Decentralized composting (DC) is a profitable KW treating technology.

● SAC and BEC were economically attractive in rural area, while HDC was unprofitable.

● KW handling subsidy plays a vital role in making DC profitable.

● SAC and BEC have great potential in promoting rural KW treatment.

This study was designed to evaluate whether the decentralized rural kitchen waste (KW) composting technologies used in China can be widely applied. To this end, we completed a techno-economic analysis of three typical types of KW compositing, namely solar-assisted (SAC), bio-enhanced (BEC), and heat-dewatering composting (HDC). These evaluations revealed that all three technologies produce composting products that meet China’s organic fertilizer standard and that both SAC and BEC are economically self-sustaining and generate net profits (18824.94 and 17791.52 US$/a) and positive net present values (32133.11 and 25035.93 US$). Subsequent sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the KW-handling subsidy plays a critical role in making decentralized composting economically attractive. Based on these analyses, we believe that reducing the coverage area of SAC, reducing the operating cost of BEC and HDC, upgrading composting products, and strengthening secondary pollution control would aid in supporting the technological improvement of these processes. Moreover, providing appropriate subsidies and promulgating specific standards and policies for KW fertilizer are key strategies for decentralized rural KW composting management.

Keywords Techno-economic analysis Sensitivity analysis Rural kitchen waste Decentralized composting Organic fertilizer

Corresponding Author(s): Yong Qin

Issue Date: 27 October 2022

Cite this article:

Haoshu Wang,Yong Qin,Liqing Xin, et al. Preliminary techno-economic analysis of three typical decentralized composting technologies treating rural kitchen waste: a case study in China[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2023, 17(4): 47.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-023-1647-7
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2023/V17/I4/47

Tab.1 Operating parameters for decentralized composting-based treatment of rural kitchen waste

Fig.1 Process diagram describing (a) solar-assisted composting (SAC), (b) heat-dewatering (HDC), and (c) bio-enhanced composting (BEC).

Tab.2 Parameters governing the economic evaluation of decentralized composting-based treatment of rural KW

Tab.3 Primary characteristics of the composting products produced by each of the three technologies

Fig.2 Fixed capital investment (a) and operating costs (b) for each of these three decentralized composting technologies.

Tab.4 Summary of the profitability analysis for SAC, BEC, and HDC

Fig.3 Net present values (NPVs) for (a) SAC, (b) BEC, and (c) HDC accounting for economic factor changes in the ± 20 % range.

Fig.4 NPVs when including KW handling subsidy variations.

1	M Bekchanov , A Mirzabaev . (2018). Circular economy of composting in Sri Lanka: opportunities and challenges for reducing waste related pollution and improving soil health. Journal of Cleaner Production, 202: 1107–1119 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.186
2	B Bian , X Hu , S Zhang , C Lv , Z Yang , W Yang , L Zhang . (2019). Pilot-scale composting of typical multiple agricultural wastes: parameter optimization and mechanisms. Bioresource Technology, 287: 121482 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121482 pmid: 31121441
3	C Bruni , C Akyol , G Cipolletta , A L Eusebi , D Caniani , S Masi , J Colón , F Fatone . (2020). Decentralized community composting: past, present and future aspects of Italy. Sustainability (Basel), 12(8): 3319 https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083319
4	T Chen , Y Zhao , X Qiu , X Zhu , X Liu , J Yin , D Shen , H Feng . (2021). Economics analysis of food waste treatment in China and its influencing factors. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 15(2): 33 https://doi.org/10.1007/s17783-020-1325-y
5	E Ermolaev , C Sundberg , M Pell , S Smårs , H Jonsson . (2019). Effects of moisture on emissions of methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide from food and garden waste composting. Journal of Cleaner Production, 240: 118165 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118165
6	M Gao , Z Yang , Y Guo , M Chen , T Qiu , X Sun , X Wang . (2021). The size distribution of airborne bacteria and human pathogenic bacteria in a commercial composting plant. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 15(3): 39 https://doi.org/10.1007/s17783-020-1356-4
7	A D Gronewold , R L Wolpert . (2008). Modeling the relationship between most probable number (MPN) and colony-forming unit (CFU) estimates of fecal coliform concentration. Water Research, 42(13): 3327–3334 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2008.04.011 pmid: 18490046
8	J C Hartman . (2000). On the equivalence of net present value and market value added as measures of a project’s economic worth. Engineering Economist, 45(2): 158–165 https://doi.org/10.1080/00137910008967543
9	Y Kuang , B Lin . (2021). Public participation and city sustainability: evidence from urban garbage classification in China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 67: 102741 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.102741
10	T H Kwan , K L Ong , M A Haque , S Kulkarni , C S K Lin . (2019). Biorefinery of food and beverage waste valorisation for sugar syrups production: techno-economic assessment. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 121: 194–208 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2018.10.018
11	H Li , Y Qiu , T Yao , D Han , Y Gao , J Zhang , Y Ma , H Zhang , X Yang . (2021). Nutrients available in the soil regulate the changes of soil microbial community alongside degradation of alpine meadows in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 792: 148363 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148363 pmid: 34465051
12	X Li , F Bi , Z Han , Y Qin , H Wang , W Wu . (2019). Garbage source classification performance, impact factor, and management strategy in rural areas of China: a case study in Hangzhou. Waste Management (New York, N.Y.), 89: 313–321 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.04.020 pmid: 31079745
13	L Lin , A Shah , H Keener , Y Li . (2019). Techno-economic analyses of solid-state anaerobic digestion and composting of yard trimmings. Waste Management (New York, N.Y.), 85: 405–416 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.12.037 pmid: 30803595
14	X Lin , Z Wang , J Li . (2021). Identifying the factors dominating the spatial distribution of water and salt in soil and cotton yield under arid environments of drip irrigation with different lateral lengths. Agricultural Water Management, 250: 106834 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106834
15	F Liu , H Liu , N Yang , L Wang . (2021). Comparative study of municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash reutilization in China: environmental and economic performances. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 169: 105541 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105541
16	K Liu , T Han , J Huang , S Asad , D Li , X Yu , Q Huang , H Ye , H Hu , Z Hu , H Zhang . (2020a). Links between potassium of soil aggregates and pH levels in acidic soils under long-term fertilization regimes. Soil & Tillage Research, 197: 104480 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2019.104480
17	S Liu , S Oshita , Y Makino , Q Wang , Y Kawagoe , T Uchida . (2016). Oxidative capacity of nanobubbles and its effect on seed germination. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 4(3): 1347–1353 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5b01368
18	Z Liu , X Wang , F Wang , Z Bai , D Chadwick , T Misselbrook , L Ma . (2020b). The progress of composting technologies from static heap to intelligent reactor: benefits and limitations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 270: 122328 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122328
19	S F Lu , S J Feng . (2020). Comprehensive overview of numerical modeling of coupled landfill processes. Waste Management (New York, N.Y.), 118: 161–179 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.08.029 pmid: 32892093
20	J Ma , K W Hipel , M L Hanson . (2018a). An evaluation of the social dimensions in public participation in rural domestic waste source-separated collection in Guilin, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 190(1): 35 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6405-5 pmid: 29264731
21	J Ma , L Zhang , L Mu , K Zhu , A Li . (2018b). Thermally assisted bio-drying of food waste: synergistic enhancement and energetic evaluation. Waste Management (New York, N.Y.), 80: 327–338 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.09.023 pmid: 30455014
22	W Ma , T Wenga , F J Frandsen , B Yan , G Chen . (2020). The fate of chlorine during MSW incineration: vaporization, transformation, deposition, corrosion and remedies. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 76: 100789 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2019.100789
23	M K Manu , R Kumar , A Garg . (2019). Decentralized composting of household wet biodegradable waste in plastic drums: effect of waste turning, microbial inoculum and bulking agent on product quality. Journal of Cleaner Production, 226: 233–241 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.350
24	P M Matei , M Sánchez-Báscones , C T Bravo-Sánchez , P Martín-Ramos , M T Martín-Villullas , M C García-González , S Hernández-Navarro , L M Navas-Gracia , J Martín-Gil . (2016). Hygienization and control of Diplodia seriata fungus in vine pruning waste composting and its seasonal variability in open and closed systems. Waste Management (New York, N.Y.), 58: 126–134 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.08.002 pmid: 27522281
25	J Moreno-Caselles , R Moral , M Perez-Murcia , A Perez-Espinosa , B Rufete . (2002). Nutrient value of animal manures in front of environmental hazards. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 33(15–18): 3023–3032 https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-120014499
26	S Pai , N Ai , J Zheng . (2019). Decentralized community composting feasibility analysis for residential food waste: a Chicago case study. Sustainable Cities and Society, 50: 101683 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101683
27	A ShahN R BaralA Manandhar (2016). Technoeconomic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Bioenergy Systems. Advances in Bioenergy. Amsterdam: Elsevier
28	S Sharma , P Panneerselvam , R Castillo , S Manohar , R Raj , V Ravi , R J Buresh . (2019). Web-based tool for calculating field-specific nutrient management for rice in India. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 113(1): 21–33 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-018-9959-x pmid: 32684798
29	S Thapa , H Mejer , S M Thamsborg , J D Lekfeldt , R Wang , B Jensen , J Magid , N V Meyling . (2017). Survival of chicken ascarid eggs exposed to different soil types and fungi. Applied Soil Ecology, 121: 143–151 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.10.001
30	A Wang , L Zhang , Y Shi , S Rozelle , A Osborn , M Yang . (2017). Rural solid waste management in China: status, problems and challenges. Sustainability (Basel), 9(4): 506 https://doi.org/10.3390/su9040506
31	H Wang , J Xu , L Sheng . (2019). Study on the comprehensive utilization of city kitchen waste as a resource in China. Energy, 173: 263–277 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.081
32	Y Wei , N Wang , Y Lin , Y Zhan , X Ding , Y Liu , A Zhang , G Ding , T Xu , J Li . (2021). Recycling of nutrients from organic waste by advanced compost technology: a case study. Bioresource Technology, 337: 125411 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125411 pmid: 34153865
33	L Xin , X Li , F Bi , X Yan , H Wang , W Wu . (2021). Accelerating food waste composting course with biodrying and maturity process: a pilot study. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9(1): 224–235 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c06899
34	Y Xu , H Gong , X Dai . (2021). High-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: achievements and perspectives. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 15(4): 71 https://doi.org/10.1007/s17783-020-1364-4
35	F Yang , Y Li , Y Han , W Qian , G Li , W Luo . (2019). Performance of mature compost to control gaseous emissions in kitchen waste composting. Science of the Total Environment, 657: 262–269 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.030 pmid: 30543975
36	T Yoshizaki , Y Shirai , M A Hassan , A S Baharuddin , N M R Abdullah , A Sulaiman , Z Busu . (2012). Economic analysis of biogas and compost projects in a palm oil mill with clean development mechanism in Malaysia. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 14(6): 1065–1079 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-012-9371-7
37	S ZhangJ WangX ChenJ GuiY SunD Wu (2021). Industrial-scale food waste composting: effects of aeration frequencies on oxygen consumption, enzymatic activities and bacterial community succession. Bioresource Technology, 320(Pt A): 124357
38	L Zhu , X Jia , M Li , Y Wang , J Zhang , J Hou , X Wang . (2021). Associative effectiveness of bio-organic fertilizer and soil conditioners derived from the fermentation of food waste applied to greenhouse saline soil in Shandong Province, China. Applied Soil Ecology, 167: 104006 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104006

[1]

FSE-22094-OF-WHS_suppl_1

Download

[1]	Kaixuan Zheng, Xingshen Luo, Yiqi Tan, Zhonglei Li, Hongtao Wang, Tan Chen, Li Zhao, Liangtong Zhan. Passive convergence-permeable reactive barrier (PC-PRB): An effective configuration to enhance hydraulic performance[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2022, 16(12): 156-.
[2]	Jiping Jiang, Feng Han, Yi Zheng, Nannan Wang, Yixing Yuan. Inverse uncertainty characteristics of pollution source identification for river chemical spill incidents by stochastic analysis[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(5): 6-.
[3]	XIA Tianxiang,JIANG Lin,JIA Xiaoyang,ZHONG Maosheng,LIANG Jing. Application of probabilistic risk assessment at a coking plant site contaminated by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons[J]. Front.Environ.Sci.Eng., 2014, 8(3): 441-450.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed