Development of a decision model for the optimal path of bio-waste selective collection and management from highly urbanized areas, based on the technique of prospective technology analysis

Project title: Development of a decision model for the optimal path of bio-waste selective collection and management from highly urbanized areas, based on the technique of prospective technology analysis
Project Manager:  dr inż. Piotr Manczarski
Implementing institution: Faculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering
Source of funding: Excellence Initiative – Research University

Project summary:

The aim of the project is to create a decision model for choosing the optimal path of selective collection and management of bio-waste from highly urbanized areas, based on the technique of prospective technology analysis, in order to intensify organic recycling and energy potential (based, among others, on the municipal biogas plant system) from the stream of analyzed waste. The project is part of the National Smart Specializations thematic area No. 7 and 4.

Depending on the generation source and the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of bio-waste, there are various technological and organizational paths for its management. One of the variants of using the potential of bio-waste is to apply the anaerobic digestion process. The methane fermentation process itself can be carried out in many technological variants, depending on the quality (including contamination of bio-waste with other material fractions, e.g. plastics) and the availability of the feedstock. A variety of solutions is also available in the field of other organic recycling methods. Unfortunately, the literature reports lack current data (concerning the last 10 years) on the quality of bio-waste, in particular bio-waste from highly urbanized areas in Poland. The project plan includes two research stages.

The first stage will involve conducting an annual qualitative research cycle of bio-waste coming from the municipal solid waste stream and from catering facilities (including canteens, restaurants) in Warsaw agglomeration. Stage one will result in qualitative research on bio-waste generated in an urbanized area.

The second stage of research will be based on the use of the methodology of prospective technology analysis and will consist of the implementation of the concept phases: scanning, understanding, anticipation and conclusion. Various methods of analysis will be used within the individual phases, including the Delphi technique and focus group interview. In this part, one of the most important data sources will be the unique results of the research works from stage I. They will be supplemented with information on technical and organizational conditions related to the generation and selective collection of bio-waste in a highly urbanized urban system (the example of Warsaw). The result of the second stage will be the creation of a decision-making model for choosing the path of bio-waste separate collection and management.

The approach proposed in the project gives a chance to choose solutions for the separate collection of bio-waste with the highest development potential. It is innovative to transfer the methods traditionally used in planning and preparation of production to the area of planning the development of waste management systems.

 

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