Incorporating decentralized facilities into the food waste treatment infrastructure in Megacity: A locational optimization in Beijing

Abstract

Food waste management has emerged as a pivotal issue with the acceleration of urbanization. Inappropriate treatment of food waste causes environmental contamination, resource squandering, and land occupation. This research explores optimal strategies in Beijing with an experimental case study on the bioconversion technology using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), comparing centralized and decentralized approaches. We studied waste sorting behaviors influenced by community characteristics, employing an Agent-Based Model (ABM) and a mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP). Results indicate that 29 % of Beijing's food waste could be suitably managed through decentralized methods with BSFL, particularly in outlying areas and densely populated suburbs. Decentralized treatment exhibits the potential to boost waste separation participation in medium-sized, close- knit communities. However, this approach encounters hurdles related to technological implementation, public perception, and urban planning. This study underscores the need for community-specific strategies and a concerted effort from communities, government, and the private sector in advancing sustainable urban food waste management.