Author: Anees Ahmad, Muhammad Hassan Javed, Farayi Musharavati, Mohammad Ilyas Khan, Ala’a H. Al-Muhtaseb, Muhammad Naqvi, Rozieana Abu, Muhammad Waqas Anjum, Mohammad Rehan, Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam, Rahib Hussain & Abdul-Sattar Nizami
Citation: Ahmad, Anees, et al. "Achieving circular economy through sustainable biofertilizer production from mixed municipal waste: a life cycle analysis approach." Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery (2025): 1-19.
Abstract:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13399-025-06709-z
The current study aims to examine the advanced environmental and technoeconomic performances of sustainable biofertilizer production from mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. This research was conducted in a compost company involving raw material, transportation, and manufacturing stages in Lahore city as a case study by applying the combined LCA and life cycle costing (LCC) approach. GaBi, ReCiPe mid-point (H), the database was used to analyze the environmental burdens and economic modelling was assessed using techno-economic and statical methods. The key findings revealed that the key contributors to the environmental degradation were global warming potential, marine water eutrophication potential, and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential, with contribution values of 1.21 + E03 kg CO2 Eq, 7.05E + 02 kg N Eq, respectively. Grid mix energy use contributed more than 70% of impact scores to the total environmental performance. Scenario analysis was conducted to alter the energy source stage’s key substance grid mix electricity with photovoltaic energy. It exhibited that photovoltaic energy can significantly reduce major environmental categories, including stratospheric ozone depletion and photochemical ozone formation, by 85% and 77%. The total LCC of FWC production from 1 metric ton of mixed MSW was calculated at 36.6$/t. Equipment cost was the top contributor (over 45%) of LCC for FWC production. MSW’s estimated total revenue is 29.2 $/t, and 1,586.1$/t daily. The payback is less than 3.5 years, which is more economically feasible. Hence, the FWC production is a win–win situation and is an economically feasible and profitable project. These outcomes could be helpful to policymakers and related enterprises in decision-making.
Author: Anees Ahmad, Muhammad Hassan Javed, Farayi Musharavati, Mohammad Ilyas Khan, Ala’a H. Al-Muhtaseb, Muhammad Naqvi, Rozieana Abu, Muhammad Waqas Anjum, Mohammad Rehan, Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam, Rahib Hussain & Abdul-Sattar Nizami
Citation: Ahmad, Anees, et al. "Achieving circular economy through sustainable biofertilizer production from mixed municipal waste: a life cycle analysis approach." Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery (2025): 1-19.
Abstract:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13399-025-06709-z
The current study aims to examine the advanced environmental and technoeconomic performances of sustainable biofertilizer production from mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. This research was conducted in a compost company involving raw material, transportation, and manufacturing stages in Lahore city as a case study by applying the combined LCA and life cycle costing (LCC) approach. GaBi, ReCiPe mid-point (H), the database was used to analyze the environmental burdens and economic modelling was assessed using techno-economic and statical methods. The key findings revealed that the key contributors to the environmental degradation were global warming potential, marine water eutrophication potential, and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential, with contribution values of 1.21 + E03 kg CO2 Eq, 7.05E + 02 kg N Eq, respectively. Grid mix energy use contributed more than 70% of impact scores to the total environmental performance. Scenario analysis was conducted to alter the energy source stage’s key substance grid mix electricity with photovoltaic energy. It exhibited that photovoltaic energy can significantly reduce major environmental categories, including stratospheric ozone depletion and photochemical ozone formation, by 85% and 77%. The total LCC of FWC production from 1 metric ton of mixed MSW was calculated at 36.6$/t. Equipment cost was the top contributor (over 45%) of LCC for FWC production. MSW’s estimated total revenue is 29.2 $/t, and 1,586.1$/t daily. The payback is less than 3.5 years, which is more economically feasible. Hence, the FWC production is a win–win situation and is an economically feasible and profitable project. These outcomes could be helpful to policymakers and related enterprises in decision-making.