GHG emissions expressed in ton CO 2 -equivalent.
Compared to the baseline scenario, the decentralized composting business model resulted in a
net GHG emission saving of 1.21 ton CO 2 -eq/ton
of compost. Looking at the economic and environmental impacts, the business model is both
financially and economically feasible with more
than 70% chance of economic success.
The establishment of resource recovery and
reuse business models considers different waste
streams as a resource. The promotion of such
businesses has implications for the developing
countries especially for micro, medium and small
scale businesses in terms of using sustainable
production and consumption patterns and
behaviors. Thinking in terms of society as a
whole, the development of a waste reuse industry
such as the waste to nutrient business has a
spillover effect since it induces both direct and
indirect costs and benefits to different sectors of
the economy. Assessing the economic and
environmental viability of waste to nutrient
business models is an important tool for decision
making in order to ensure that the business
models result in desired socio-economic benefits
to society and thus justify their development and
promotion. This study focused on the economic
and environmental aspects of a nutrient business
model, however, social benefits and costs associated with the business model need to be considered in assessing the overall socioeconomic
assessment of waste reuse businesses.
Acknowledgements This research was carried out with
funding by the European Union (EU) and technical support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Water Land and Ecosystem
(WLE) research programme of the CGIAR.
References
Aye L, Widjaya ER (2006) Environmental and economic
analyses of waste disposal options for traditional
markets in Indonesia. Waste Manag 26:1180–1191
Bouma J (2021) How to integrate and balance water, soil
and waste expertise when realizing the corresponding
nexus approach. In: Hülsmann S, Jampani M (eds) A
nexus approach for sustainable development. Springer
Nature, Cham, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/
978-3-030-57530-4_1
Galgani P, van der Voet E, Korevaar G (2016) Composting, anaerobic digestion and biochar production in
Ghana. Environmental–economic assessment in the
context of voluntary carbon markets. Waste Manag
34:2454–2465
Hettiarachchi H, Caucci S, Ardakanian R (2018) Safe use
of wastewater in agriculture: the golden example of
nexus approach. In: Hettiarachchi H, Ardakanian R
(eds) Safe use of wastewater in agriculture. Springer,
Cham
Hettiarachchi H, Ardakanian R (2016) Managing water,
soil, and waste in the context of global change. In:
Hettiarachchi H, Ardakanian R (eds) Environmental
resource management and the nexus approach.
Springer, Switzerland, pp 1–7
Hoff H (2011) Understanding the nexus. In: Background
paper for the Bonn2011 conference: the water, energy
and food security nexus. Stockholm Environment
Institute, Stockholm
Khamala EM, Alex AA (2013) Municipal solid waste
composition and characteristics relevant to the wasteto-energy disposal method for Nairobi city. Glob J
Eng Des Technol 2:1–6
Kong D, Shan J, Iacoboni M, Maguin SR (2012)
Evaluating greenhouse gas impacts of organic waste
management options using life cycle assessment.
Waste Manag Res 30:800–812
Lal R (2015) The nexus approach to managing water, soil
and waste under changing climate and growing
demands on natural resources. In: White book:
advancing a nexus approach to the sustainable management of water, soil and waste. United Nations
University
Njoroge BNK, Kimani M, Ndunge D (2014) Review of
municipal solid waste management: a case study of
Nairobi, Kenya. Int J Eng Sci 4:16–20
Oyoo R, Leemans R, Mol APJ (2011) Future projections
of urban waste flows and their impacts in African
metropolises cities. Int J of Environ Resour 5:705–724
Pandyaswargo AH, Premakumara DGJ (2014) Financial
sustainability of modern composting: the economically optimal scale for municipal waste composting
plant in developing Asia. Int J Recycl Org Waste
Agricult 3:4
Pires A, Martinho G, Chang NB (2011) Solid waste
management in European countries: a review of
systems analysis techniques. J Environ Manag
92:1033–1050
Ruiz JA, Juarez MC, Morales MP, Munoz P, Mendıvil
MA (2013) Biomass logistics: financial & environmental costs. Case study: 2 MW electrical power
plants. Biomass Bioenergy 56:260–267
Sallwey J, Hettiarachchi H, Hülsmann S (2017) Challenges and opportunities in municipal solid waste
management in Mozambique: a review in the light of
nexus thinking. AIMS Environ Sci 4:621–639
Nutrient Recovery for Use in Agriculture …
37
Compared to the baseline scenario, the decentralized composting business model resulted in a
net GHG emission saving of 1.21 ton CO 2 -eq/ton
of compost. Looking at the economic and environmental impacts, the business model is both
financially and economically feasible with more
than 70% chance of economic success.
The establishment of resource recovery and
reuse business models considers different waste
streams as a resource. The promotion of such
businesses has implications for the developing
countries especially for micro, medium and small
scale businesses in terms of using sustainable
production and consumption patterns and
behaviors. Thinking in terms of society as a
whole, the development of a waste reuse industry
such as the waste to nutrient business has a
spillover effect since it induces both direct and
indirect costs and benefits to different sectors of
the economy. Assessing the economic and
environmental viability of waste to nutrient
business models is an important tool for decision
making in order to ensure that the business
models result in desired socio-economic benefits
to society and thus justify their development and
promotion. This study focused on the economic
and environmental aspects of a nutrient business
model, however, social benefits and costs associated with the business model need to be considered in assessing the overall socioeconomic
assessment of waste reuse businesses.
Acknowledgements This research was carried out with
funding by the European Union (EU) and technical support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Water Land and Ecosystem
(WLE) research programme of the CGIAR.
References
Aye L, Widjaya ER (2006) Environmental and economic
analyses of waste disposal options for traditional
markets in Indonesia. Waste Manag 26:1180–1191
Bouma J (2021) How to integrate and balance water, soil
and waste expertise when realizing the corresponding
nexus approach. In: Hülsmann S, Jampani M (eds) A
nexus approach for sustainable development. Springer
Nature, Cham, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/
978-3-030-57530-4_1
Galgani P, van der Voet E, Korevaar G (2016) Composting, anaerobic digestion and biochar production in
Ghana. Environmental–economic assessment in the
context of voluntary carbon markets. Waste Manag
34:2454–2465
Hettiarachchi H, Caucci S, Ardakanian R (2018) Safe use
of wastewater in agriculture: the golden example of
nexus approach. In: Hettiarachchi H, Ardakanian R
(eds) Safe use of wastewater in agriculture. Springer,
Cham
Hettiarachchi H, Ardakanian R (2016) Managing water,
soil, and waste in the context of global change. In:
Hettiarachchi H, Ardakanian R (eds) Environmental
resource management and the nexus approach.
Springer, Switzerland, pp 1–7
Hoff H (2011) Understanding the nexus. In: Background
paper for the Bonn2011 conference: the water, energy
and food security nexus. Stockholm Environment
Institute, Stockholm
Khamala EM, Alex AA (2013) Municipal solid waste
composition and characteristics relevant to the wasteto-energy disposal method for Nairobi city. Glob J
Eng Des Technol 2:1–6
Kong D, Shan J, Iacoboni M, Maguin SR (2012)
Evaluating greenhouse gas impacts of organic waste
management options using life cycle assessment.
Waste Manag Res 30:800–812
Lal R (2015) The nexus approach to managing water, soil
and waste under changing climate and growing
demands on natural resources. In: White book:
advancing a nexus approach to the sustainable management of water, soil and waste. United Nations
University
Njoroge BNK, Kimani M, Ndunge D (2014) Review of
municipal solid waste management: a case study of
Nairobi, Kenya. Int J Eng Sci 4:16–20
Oyoo R, Leemans R, Mol APJ (2011) Future projections
of urban waste flows and their impacts in African
metropolises cities. Int J of Environ Resour 5:705–724
Pandyaswargo AH, Premakumara DGJ (2014) Financial
sustainability of modern composting: the economically optimal scale for municipal waste composting
plant in developing Asia. Int J Recycl Org Waste
Agricult 3:4
Pires A, Martinho G, Chang NB (2011) Solid waste
management in European countries: a review of
systems analysis techniques. J Environ Manag
92:1033–1050
Ruiz JA, Juarez MC, Morales MP, Munoz P, Mendıvil
MA (2013) Biomass logistics: financial & environmental costs. Case study: 2 MW electrical power
plants. Biomass Bioenergy 56:260–267
Sallwey J, Hettiarachchi H, Hülsmann S (2017) Challenges and opportunities in municipal solid waste
management in Mozambique: a review in the light of
nexus thinking. AIMS Environ Sci 4:621–639
Nutrient Recovery for Use in Agriculture …
37