Promoting circular economy in the surroundings of an organic fraction of municipal solid waste anaerobic digestion treatment plant: Biogas production impact and economic factors

Abstract

The Anaerobic Digestion and Composting Plant of the Vallès Oriental Waste Treatment Centre processes source-selected organic fraction of municipal solid wastes generated in its surrounding area. To promote Circular Economy between Municipal Solid Waste and industrial waste management systems, the Treatment Centre is looking for complementary wastes to be valorised through co-digestion with its main substrate. The study includes waste characterization and a complete treatment cost analysis, that jointly with the biogas potential and the mass balance of the Plant allows to calculate the price of each waste to be treated in the Plant. Up to 13 industrial wastes have been characterised for its biogas potential and its treatment cost calculated. Treatment prices ranged between 83 and 51 € t^-1.

Keywords: Anaerobic co-digestion; Biogas; Circular economy; Organic fraction of municipal solid wastes; Treatment cost.