Community scale, decentralised anaerobic digestion for energy and resource recovery

The paper describes “Community scale, decentralized anaerobic digestion for energy and resource technology” which is a joint UK-Thailand project much in line with the current aims of the Thai Government for decentralized energy generation. The use of food waste for biogas generation by the process of anaerobic digestion provides multiple benefits: decreased energy dependency, nutrient preservation and recycling, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It is also promoted in the remoter Scotland and Wales of the UK. The aim of the project is the design and deployment of small scale digesters and their networking into remotely monitored units. Here, we are describing initial design of the reactors and some issues associated with using food waste as substrate. Based on the literature, we have also estimated the reactors performance to be 0.40-0.50 m3/kg of feedstock for biogas production

Assessment of urban solid waste management systems for Industry 4.0 technology interventions and the circular economy

The ongoing fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0 (I4.0), is transforming various industries across the globe. At the same time, resource scarcity with high consumption rates has led to the development of the circular economy. Both concepts advocate for sustainable growth and waste minimization. In developing countries, the integrated solid waste management framework is undergoing modification under I4.0 and the circular economy. Urban local bodies are often unable to measure the readiness of their waste management systems to transform under I4.0 and the circular economy. Here the novel concept of Waste 4.0 is developed. ‘Waste 4.0’ is a readiness assessment tool to promote the comprehensive transformation of municipal solid waste management under I4.0 and circular economy. This tool has eight determinants for assessing the municipal solid waste management of urban local bodies. To validate Waste 4.0 the urban local bodies of Indore and Sagar, India were used as case studies. The readiness index for I4.0 in the municipal solid waste management system in Indore and Sagar was 0.72 and 0.14, respectively. The readiness index for circular economy focus in Indore and Sagar was 0.65 and 0.13, respectively. The Indore urban local body was classified as an ‘Experienced’ player for I4.0 Intervention and a ‘circular economy fast adopter’ for circular economy focus under I4.0 readiness. The Sagar urban local body was classified as a ‘Hesitator’ player for I4.0 Intervention and achieved the ‘Business as usual’ tag for circular economy focus under I4.0 readiness. With the Waste 4.0 assessment results urban local bodies can better plan and thus transform their municipal solid waste management systems under I4.0 and the circular economy. </jats:p