96 M. M. Bugge and A. M. Fevolden
Reuse and prevention compose the top two levels of the waste hierarchy
and are the most sustainable options. Reuse implies that organic resources are
used again without breaking them down and reprocessing them (which is the
case in a recycling process). A typical example of reuse is using leftover food
as feed for animals. Prevention is the most sustainable option and forms the
top of the waste pyramid. Typical examples of waste prevention are serving
food on smaller plates at hotels or repacking of food items into sizes that fit
the needs of the consumers and which do not generate leftovers. Reuse and
waste prevention have emerged as the most important alternatives to pursue
today in order to create more sustainable production and consumption patterns (Mourad, 2016).
In sum, urban organic waste can be dealt with in many different ways and
these can have considerable implications for sustainability. The higher the
waste treatment option is in the waste pyramid, the more sustainable the
treatment option tends to be.
5.2.3 Valorisation of waste – importance of problem setting
When local authorities want to improve the sustainability of their waste treatment system, they have to engage in both ‘problem solving’ and ‘problem
setting’. When they engage in ‘problem solving’ but not in ‘problem setting’,
the only possible outcome is to expand or improve their existing waste treatment system. For instance, local authorities can expand the collection and
delivery of waste to its incineration plant, and thereby incinerate waste that
might otherwise have been dumped on a landfill. Such activities improve
sustainability, but the solutions are found on the same level in the waste hierarchy pyramid and further improvements will at some point be exhausted. To
improve the waste treatment system further, local authorities need to find
options outside the existing system and at a higher level in the waste pyramid.
For instance, local authorities can recycle organic waste and turn it into biogas
and fertiliser instead of incinerating it. We refer to this option as ‘problem
setting’. Of course, ‘problem setting’ also requires the solving of the identified
problems.
When local authorities engage in ‘problem setting’, they are attempting to
transition from one waste system to another. Transitions from one waste
system to another are often very challenging, as an existing waste system will
often be embedded and anchored in specific technologies, infrastructures and
institutions that are not relevant to the new system (Frantzeskaki & Loorbach,
2010). The transition from landfill (disposal) to incineration (energy recovery)
requires investment in incineration infrastructure to capture and exploit the
energy from the waste. The transition from an incineration system (energy
recovery) to a biological treatment system (recycling) requires new infrastructure, and altered behaviour from the citizens using the system, as a result of
the need for sorted waste streams. In addition, there is a need for a market for
the different waste streams (e.g. paper, plastics, glass, metal, textiles) and the
Reuse and prevention compose the top two levels of the waste hierarchy
and are the most sustainable options. Reuse implies that organic resources are
used again without breaking them down and reprocessing them (which is the
case in a recycling process). A typical example of reuse is using leftover food
as feed for animals. Prevention is the most sustainable option and forms the
top of the waste pyramid. Typical examples of waste prevention are serving
food on smaller plates at hotels or repacking of food items into sizes that fit
the needs of the consumers and which do not generate leftovers. Reuse and
waste prevention have emerged as the most important alternatives to pursue
today in order to create more sustainable production and consumption patterns (Mourad, 2016).
In sum, urban organic waste can be dealt with in many different ways and
these can have considerable implications for sustainability. The higher the
waste treatment option is in the waste pyramid, the more sustainable the
treatment option tends to be.
5.2.3 Valorisation of waste – importance of problem setting
When local authorities want to improve the sustainability of their waste treatment system, they have to engage in both ‘problem solving’ and ‘problem
setting’. When they engage in ‘problem solving’ but not in ‘problem setting’,
the only possible outcome is to expand or improve their existing waste treatment system. For instance, local authorities can expand the collection and
delivery of waste to its incineration plant, and thereby incinerate waste that
might otherwise have been dumped on a landfill. Such activities improve
sustainability, but the solutions are found on the same level in the waste hierarchy pyramid and further improvements will at some point be exhausted. To
improve the waste treatment system further, local authorities need to find
options outside the existing system and at a higher level in the waste pyramid.
For instance, local authorities can recycle organic waste and turn it into biogas
and fertiliser instead of incinerating it. We refer to this option as ‘problem
setting’. Of course, ‘problem setting’ also requires the solving of the identified
problems.
When local authorities engage in ‘problem setting’, they are attempting to
transition from one waste system to another. Transitions from one waste
system to another are often very challenging, as an existing waste system will
often be embedded and anchored in specific technologies, infrastructures and
institutions that are not relevant to the new system (Frantzeskaki & Loorbach,
2010). The transition from landfill (disposal) to incineration (energy recovery)
requires investment in incineration infrastructure to capture and exploit the
energy from the waste. The transition from an incineration system (energy
recovery) to a biological treatment system (recycling) requires new infrastructure, and altered behaviour from the citizens using the system, as a result of
the need for sorted waste streams. In addition, there is a need for a market for
the different waste streams (e.g. paper, plastics, glass, metal, textiles) and the