Abstract
This paper aims to determine the environmental performance of the current landfill gas management system (based on flaring) in Mexico City (Bordo Poniente) in comparison to the collection of biogas generated from solid waste through one of the most innovative technology implemented in Denmark (Aikan Tecnology), which produces biogas and digestate from waste. Two alternative scenarios are proposed in which the Aikan Technology is implemented in Bordo Poniente to replace the existing system (reference scenario) that involves landfilling inorganic waste and composting organic waste in Bordo Poniente with no biogas recovery. The biogas recovered through Aikan Technology is exploited to provide heat and electricity (Scenario 1) or biofuel for the transportation sector (Scenario 2). A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to evaluate the environmental performances associated with all scenarios by evaluating the impact categories Climate Change, Fossil Depletion, and Cumulative Energy Demand. According to the waste capacity of Bordo Poniente, the implementation of the Aikan Technology would result in a total annual reduction of 0.14 and 0.08 Mt of CO2 eq for Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, respectively. Scenario 1 was also the best performing scenario with respect to fossil depletion (-52 kg oil eq ton-1 of organic waste) and cumulative energy demand (-3557 MJ ton-1 of organic waste). The implementation of Aikan Technology in Mexico City represents an important challenge and requires further research into its economic and political feasibility. When it comes to tackling global environmental problems, international agreements ascribe high importance to environmental technology transfer. This study represents a preliminary step in terms of environmental assessment and thus provides important information for policymakers attempting to achieve more sustainable management of solid waste in Mexico.
Highlights
Mexico City is the most populated City in Mexico with a population in 2018 of about 21,580,000 inhabitants who represent about 16% of the total population of the country (WPR, 2018)
The analysis revealed that implementing Aikan Technology, as a replacement for the existing composting technology in Bordo Poniente, would result in impact reductions associated with climate change, fossil depletion, and cumulative energy demand
We found that when Aikan Technology was exploited to produce compost and biogas for electricity and heat production (S1), the impact reductions were greater than when it was exploited to generate biofuel for the transportation sector (S2)
Summary
Mexico City is the most populated City in Mexico with a population in 2018 of about 21,580,000 inhabitants who represent about 16% of the total population of the country (WPR, 2018). The per capita generation of SW in Mexico City is higher than the national average (0.98 kg) and about 49.5% of this waste corresponds to organic waste (Duran Moreno et al, 2013). The SW is mixed and requires sorting prior to further treatment, increasing the total costs of the SW management system (Santibáñez et al, 2013). Costs of SW management arise from generation, storage, sweeping, and collection by vehicles with a loading capacity between 3,000 and 5,000 kg (Duran Moreno et al, 2013). The SW is transported to sanitary landfills and composting plants. (2014), 63% of waste is sorted at two sorting plants prior to transport to five sanitary landfills outside of Mexico City and eight composting plants. The remaining 37% of the mixed waste is deposited in uncontrolled landfill sites
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
