New Approaches in Food Waste Recycling in Achieving Circular Economy & Mitigating Climate Change

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1 New Approaches in Food Waste Recycling in Achieving Circular Economy & Mitigating Climate Change Serpil Guran, Ph.D., Director Rutgers EcoComplex Clean Energy Innovation Center

2 The EcoComplex: The EcoComplex is a multidisciplinary environmental and clean energy innovation center of Rutgers University that harnesses research and education resources towards the development and industrial application of innovative environmental and clean energy technologies. The Center also serves as a Business Incubator and houses 13 start-up companies. 2

3 RutgersX EcoIgnite: Clean Tech Proof of Concept Center & Accelerator Rutgers EcoComplex 3

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6 World is Getting Crowded - We will Need More Resources & Food! Between now and 2050, it is estimated that the world population will increase to 9 billion and changing diets in developing countries may lead to an increase of 70% in food demand! Central New Jersey will be built out Urban sprawl and development from both Philadelphia and New York City is a significant threat to farming, water quality, and habitat in this part of the state. 6

7 World is Getting Crowded POPULATION OF THE WORLD AND REGIONS, 2017, 2030, 2050 AND 2100, ACCORDING TO THE MEDIUM-VARIANT PROJECTION Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs/Population Division 1 World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision, Key Findings and Advance Tables 7

8 Urbanization at Fast Pace! In the past century, as the world s population has grown and become more urban and affluent. From now to 2030 the world will need to build a city of one million people, in every five days, in developing countries! As urbanization increases, global solid-waste generation is accelerating. A city resident generates twice as much waste as their rural counterpart of the same affluence. If we account for the fact that urban citizens are usually richer, they generate four times as much. Hoornweg,D., Bhada-Tata, P., Kennedy, C., 2013, Waste Production must peak this century, Nature, 502, pp

9 Waste Generation By Numbers 9

10 US Wet Waste Streams -Petroleum Displacement Potential* Animal Waste (manure) Quads** Food Processing Quads Wastewater sludge -0.2 Quads ** 1 Quad= BTU or 1.055x10 18 joules Arpa-e, Biogas Council Webinar Can Organic Waste to Energy and Products- Pathway serve as an effective tool? 10

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14 Food/Energy/Water NEXUS Can new components be integrated into FEW concept? 14

15 Understanding the Interconnections of the Three Pillars of the Nexus! There is energy embedded in every gallon of water. There is water embedded in every kwh (or joule) of energy used and every mile travelled. There is water and energy embedded in every calorie of food humans consume. Can waste be considered as resource and waste reutilization be integrated into this concept to achieve better results? Rutgers EcoComplex 15

16 Global water cycles, energy carbon cycles, food systems and climate change are inextricably linked Environmental Footprint of Food Expansion in cropland & pastures Reduction of forests, grasslands and ecotones Further expansion of land for agricultural production is almost at its limits Crop intensification practices through high water, energy and nutrient applications Last 50 years - food production has more than doubled Cropland increased only by 12% Massive increase in Nitrogen (700%), phosphorus (350%), and pesticide use. 70% increase in irrigation, increased fossil energy usage through fertilizer usage and mechanization Further intensification can have adverse affects on land and water quality: Loss of natural habitat, increase in continental water storage that formerly were flowing into deltas, extinction of freshwater fauna population and native fisheries, reduction of bird population due to inadequate water flows, nitrogen and phosphorus driven eutrophication of freshwater and near-shore marine ecosystems, shifts in the food chains, increased GHG emissions, Credit: *Khan,S., Hanjra, M.A., Footprints of water and energy inputs in food production-global perspectives, Food Policy (2008), doi: /j.foodpol

17 Global water cycles, energy carbon cycles, food production and climate change are inextricably linked Agriculture & Water Footprint Facts: Climate change is expected to accelerate the water cycle: surges in seasonal and spatial patterns and surge in the extreme events. Prolonged droughts and extreme rainfalls. Climate change and population growth will impact agriculture and its environmental footprint. Irrigated agriculture (intensively managed) provides 40% of World s food production 18 % global cropland significant impact on resources. Irrigated agricultural production accounted for 87-90% of global freshwater consumption during the 20 th century ( increased 480%) and increased demand will further stress water resources projected to increase 20% by Rain-fed agriculture accounts for 80% of global cultivated area and produces 60% of World s food Credit: *Khan,S., Hanjra, M.A., Footprints of water and energy inputs in food production-global perspectives, Food Policy (2008), doi: /j.foodpol

18 Demand for more food will negatively impact water scarcity Water footprint of food : Food Sources Calories/m 3 Corn Legumes Rice Tomatoes Apples Olives Beef Fish Credit: *Molden, D., et al. Improving agricultural water productivity: Between optimism and caution, Agricultural Water Management, 97(2010)

19 Food Systems and Climate Change (Cause or Victim?) Climate change will dramatically alter global food production Agriculture is not only affected by climate change, but also contributes to it. Credit: - IPCC

20 Global water cycles, energy carbon cycles, food production and climate change are inextricably linked US food system plays a significant role in consumption of fossil fuels From production to consumption, US food system accounts 15% or more national energy consumption Agricultural production accounts 2% of national energy consumption and 9% of GHG emissions Even modest improvements at the production stage could result meaningful societal benefit Credit: *Clark et al. Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions during transition to organic and reduced-input practices: Student farm case study, Ecological Engineering, 88(2016)

21 Food and Agriculture-Related Trends and Challenges High levels of wasted food (30-40%): First time in the history there are as many overweight people as undernourished people. Dietary habits are on a disastrous trajectory for human health and our ecosystem. Current trends in consumption are likely to cause more crises as they inefficiently use food-related resources. Economic volatility can result. 21

22 Types of Organic Waste Food waste : Pre and post-consumer waste (commercial, institutional, industrial and residential) Farm waste: crop residues and animal manure (dairy, equine and poultry) Waste water (sludge and liquids) Suitable part of MSW(grass clippings, leaves) Rutgers EcoComplex 22

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25 Clean Energy Pathways for New Jersey Solar - Current Installed Capacity of 2,391,780 kw Wind Off Shore Wind initiatives for Development Can Sustainable Bioenergy be also recognized as an important tool? in: Mitigating Climate Change Achieving Circular-Economy 25

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27 EcoComplex GHG Reduction Assessment Several scenarios developed that provide GHG-reduction potential based on selected waste and biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies. Data from the scenarios were compared with GHG emissions from fossil fuel utilization. Flared LFG Utilization for Power Generation and Transportation Fuel Production. Biogas Production from Food and Yard Waste by Anaerobic Digestion for Power and Fuel Production

28 SCENARIO: Food Waste AD to Energy Food Waste AD Biogas Biogas for Transportation Biogas to Power Generation Biogas CNG for Diesel Displacement Clean Electricity for Fossil Power Displacement

29 Food Waste Anaerobic Digestion to Power Generation tons/y 704, ,741= 1,174, ,075 MWh/y Food Waste + Yard Waste Potential Power Generation

30 Food Waste AD Biogas for Power Generation Potential CO 2 Reductions Comparison tons/y 351, ,631 Potential Avoided CO 2 Emissions: 175,453 tons/y Potential Avoided CO 2 Emissions: 368,262 tons/y Coal Generated CO 2 Emissions CO 2 Emissions from Food Waste AD Power Generation GREET LCA Food Waste AD CO 2 Emissions

31 Food Waste AD Biogas as Transportation Fuel Potential CO 2 Reductions Comparison Potential Avoided CO 2 Emissions: 349,300 tons/y CO 2 e tons/y 349, ,125 Potential Avoided CO 2 Emissions: 366,203 tons/y Diesel (DGE) CO 2 Emissions Gasoline (GGE) CO 2 Emissions GREET LCA Food Waste AD CO 2 Emissions

32 Biogas Production from Food Waste via Anaerobic Digestion for Power and Fuel Production Scenario in which recoverable food waste is anaerobically digested (AD) for biogas generation. Generated biogas can be utilized either for power generation or used in compressed natural gas (CNG) form as transportation fuel. Power - food waste-to-energy scenario has potential to generate 312,075 MWh/y of low carbon electricity. If displacing coal-generated electricity, potential reduction in CO 2 emissions estimated at 175,453 tons/yr. Fuel - Analysis of biogas via AD for CNG production showed that approximately 27.8 million gallons of fossil gasoline and 273,757 tons of fossil CO 2 could be displaced by recycled CO 2, with a total emissions reduction of 98,126 tons CO 2 /y.

33 Creating an effective regulatory, management and implementation infrastructure is key to the successful achievement of bioeconomy goals. 1) Institutional infrastructure 2) Regulations 3) Market-based incentives 4) Market transformation through technological innovation: A systems approach is needed to identify where the largest opportunities are, and more importantly, how various strategies and policies might impact each other. Inclusive WIN-WIN Solutions are Needed!

34 New Jersey Coastal Communities Commercial Waste Generator s Disposal Survey Rutgers EcoComplex 34

35 Traditional Linear Organic Waste Disposal & Utilization Fossil-based Power & Fuel Fertilizer Fossil-based Power & Fuel Fossil-based Power & Fuel Fossil-based Power & Fuel Agricultural and Animal Farming Food Processing Distribution Consumption Residential & Institutional Disposal Landfill & Incineration Food Processing Distribution Consumption Residential & Institutional Disposal Landfill, Incineration Organic Waste Organic Waste Organic Waste Organic Waste LFG Rutgers EcoComplex 35

36 Closing the Loop for Resource Recovery Processing Low Carbon Electricity, Heat & Fuel Low Carbon Electricity, Heat, & Fuel Rutgers EcoComplex Agriculture Organic Fertilizer Agriculture & Animal Farming Innovative Anaerobic Digestion Food Processing Commercial Organic Waste Consumption (Residential, Institutional) Post-Consumer Organic Waste Distribution Distribution Low Carbon Electricity, Heat, Fuel Low Carbon Electricity& Fuel Consumption Anaerobic Digestion 36

37 Anaerobic Digestion and FEW Nexus Low-Carbon Power& Heat, Biofuels CNG, LNG, H2 Energy Reduced or Eliminated Water Consumption for Power Generation Food Digestate as Fertilizer Water Rutgers EcoComplex Treated Wastewater for Irrigation or Aquifer Recharge 37

38 Where to locate Anaerobic Digesters? Large scale Digesters are more efficient Small scale digesters can only be used for demonstration or education reasons Centralized Where waste is generated or available most Where permitting is feasible Energy generation component of the project Existing infrastructure should be repurposed Track trafficking should not be heavily increased 38

39 Where to locate Anaerobic Digesters? Large Farm Applications Co-locating at the Landfills Waste Water Treatment Facilities 39

40 New Approaches Rutgers EcoComplex 40

41 New Approaches Rutgers EcoComplex 41

42 Current Practices of Organic Waste Disposal Residential/kitchen organic waste Ends up in the landfills and incinerators. Small amount of backyard composting Commercial, Institutional organic waste- Ends up in the landfills and incinerators. Some part is donated as animal feed Farm waste- Direct reincorporation into soil Waste water treatment facilities Some AD applications We are at the crossroads of Business as Usual or choosing a sustainable low-carbon approach Paradigm change is needed : Organic waste should not be buried or underutilized! 42

43 Innovations in Transforming Waste to Value- Added Products Symposium December 5-7, 2018 AIChE s Institute for Sustainability & Rutgers University 43

44 Thank You! For more information contact: Serpil Guran x