Development of Systems Modelling Framework for Waste-to-Resource Transformation

Abstract

Due to complex composition e.g. carbohydrates, lipids, protein, lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose, organic fraction municipal solid waste (OFMSW) represent nutrient and carbon rich resources. Full utilisation of OFMSW resources requires a value chain transformation towards pro-active resource recovery. This study focuses on the waste value chain optimisation to recover value added products from OFMSW. Our research presents a systems modelling approach, which integrates spatial data analyses, mixed integer linear programming (MILP) optimisation and technology performance evaluation to inform the waste-to-resource value chain design. Variation in OFMSW quantity and composition across the UK and over 600 existing anaerobic digestion (AD) operational plants in the UK have been accounted for in the model. Based on the 2018 UK land cover map, potential sites for new waste-recovery facilities have been identified and the transportation and logistics were modelled based on the network analyses of existing UK road transport infrastructures. Furthermore, OFMSW generation scenarios were constructed, where the probability was estimated based on OFMSW correlation with environmental variables. The optimisation problems were solved to provide insights into the economically optimal design of OFMSW-recovery value chains, which highlight the spatially-explicit solutions on technology choice, sizing, location, and logistics of AD and thermochemical treatment facilities.