ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Abstract

The study presents a comprehensive assessment of waste management practices at NUST, using a Bin-to-Cradle approach. The functional unit considered is the treatment of 1 metric ton of organic waste, encompassing resource recovery, highlighting the environmental implications of various scenarios. Sampling had been carried out in different sections of the campus, with waste audits completed both in the summer and winter. Five waste management scenarios were considered: open dumping, sanitary landfill, composting with landfill, anaerobic digestion with landfill and combination of composting, anaerobic digestion with landfill. SimaPro software and the ReCiPe 2016 approach were used to assess environmental liabilities and benefits. Results reveal that sanitary and open dumping are the least sustainable options due to adverse impacts like methane emissions and water pollution. Composting and anaerobic digestion emerge as more environmentally friendly alternatives, Anaerobic digestion with landfill (Scenario 3) has the lowest global warming potential while providing considerable benefits in terms of nutrient retention and renewable energy generation. The study emphasizes the importance of considering long-term emissions and specific organic waste management activities in assessing environmental performance. Anaerobic digestion is identified as the most advantageous option for managing organic waste, supported by evidence from previous research. These findings underscore the need for sustainable organic waste management practices to mitigate environmental impacts effectively.