Carbon Footprint of Food Waste
Management: A Case Study in Rio De
Janeiro
Luíza Santana Franca, Bernardo Ornelas-Ferreira,
Giovanna Maria da Costa Corrêa, Glaydston Mattos Ribeiro,
and João Paulo Bassin
Abstract The negative effects of municipal solid waste management to the environment are associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially regarding the
biodegradation of the organic fraction of the waste in landfills, which is considered its
final destination. With the objective to change this inefficient practice and incorporate
the circular economy principals to the solid waste management, the anaerobic digestion is considered to be a promising alternative for the organic fraction treatment.
Therefore, this chapter proposes an evaluation of a current and an alternative scenario
for the food waste management from a specific case study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
considering the municipal large food waste generators, such as supermarkets and
street fairs. A carbon footprint analysis was conducted for both scenarios and GHG
emissions were quantified. The results indicate emissions of 138.51 t CO 2 e.day
−1
for the current scenario and a reduction of 90% of this total amount by the alternative scenario adoption, with incorporation of an anaerobic digestion treatment unit.
Finally, with one-year implementation of this alternative scenario, it is expected to
avoid 45,291.33 t CO 2 e emissions. Apart from GHG emission reduction, the alternative scenario promotes the circular economy of food waste, with the possibility of
L. S. Franca · G. M. da Costa Corrêa · J. P. Bassin
Chemical Engineering Program/COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
e-mail: lfranca@peq.coppe.ufrj.br
G. M. da Costa Corrêa
e-mail: ornelas.ambiental@gmail.com
J. P. Bassin
e-mail: jbassin@peq.coppe.ufrj.br
B. Ornelas-Ferreira
EcoParque of the Municipal Urban Cleaning Company of the Rio de Janeiro City (COMLURB),
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
e-mail: ornelas.ambiental@gmail.com
G. M. Ribeiro (B)
Transportation Engineering Program/COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil
e-mail: glaydston@pet.coppe.ufrj.br
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to
Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (eds.), Carbon Footprint Case Studies, Environmental Footprints
and Eco-design of Products and Processes, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9577-6_2
33
Management: A Case Study in Rio De
Janeiro
Luíza Santana Franca, Bernardo Ornelas-Ferreira,
Giovanna Maria da Costa Corrêa, Glaydston Mattos Ribeiro,
and João Paulo Bassin
Abstract The negative effects of municipal solid waste management to the environment are associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially regarding the
biodegradation of the organic fraction of the waste in landfills, which is considered its
final destination. With the objective to change this inefficient practice and incorporate
the circular economy principals to the solid waste management, the anaerobic digestion is considered to be a promising alternative for the organic fraction treatment.
Therefore, this chapter proposes an evaluation of a current and an alternative scenario
for the food waste management from a specific case study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
considering the municipal large food waste generators, such as supermarkets and
street fairs. A carbon footprint analysis was conducted for both scenarios and GHG
emissions were quantified. The results indicate emissions of 138.51 t CO 2 e.day
−1
for the current scenario and a reduction of 90% of this total amount by the alternative scenario adoption, with incorporation of an anaerobic digestion treatment unit.
Finally, with one-year implementation of this alternative scenario, it is expected to
avoid 45,291.33 t CO 2 e emissions. Apart from GHG emission reduction, the alternative scenario promotes the circular economy of food waste, with the possibility of
L. S. Franca · G. M. da Costa Corrêa · J. P. Bassin
Chemical Engineering Program/COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
e-mail: lfranca@peq.coppe.ufrj.br
G. M. da Costa Corrêa
e-mail: ornelas.ambiental@gmail.com
J. P. Bassin
e-mail: jbassin@peq.coppe.ufrj.br
B. Ornelas-Ferreira
EcoParque of the Municipal Urban Cleaning Company of the Rio de Janeiro City (COMLURB),
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
e-mail: ornelas.ambiental@gmail.com
G. M. Ribeiro (B)
Transportation Engineering Program/COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil
e-mail: glaydston@pet.coppe.ufrj.br
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to
Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (eds.), Carbon Footprint Case Studies, Environmental Footprints
and Eco-design of Products and Processes, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9577-6_2
33