With over half the world’s population currently residing in cities, and projections indicating a rise to two-thirds by 2050 (with 90% of this growth in low- and middle-income countries), urban centers face escalating demands for foodFood, waterWater, and energyEnergy. Simultaneously, urban populations generate increasing amounts of waste, notably organic waste and municipal wastewater. The Urban Nexus approach offers an action-oriented framework within the circular bioeconomy, positioning urban biodegradable waste as a valuable resourceResource for creating sustainableSustainable, innovative cities and addressing waste management and ecosystem protection challenges. This paper presents applied research conducted at lab and semi-pilot scale, focusing on the anaerobic microbial conversion of urban waste (foodFoodwasteFood waste, sewage sludge, and compostable bioplastics) into valuable by-products, including marketable carboxylic acids, not disregarding methane production. A preliminary economic assessment for the valorizationValorizationof foodFoodwasteFood waste and sludge from the city of Milan, Italy, is also presented.
Urban Biodegradable Waste: Available Resources for Sustainable Circular Cities / Braguglia, Camilla M.; Gallipoli, Agata; Tonanzi, Barbara; Sbicego, Michela; Crognale, Simona; Angelini, Stefania; Angelini, Francesca; Montecchio, Daniele; Pastore, Carlo; Rossetti, Simona; Gianico, Andrea. - (2025), pp. 167-182. - NATO SCIENCE FOR PEACE AND SECURITY SERIES. C, ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY. [10.1007/978-94-024-2345-7_11].
Urban Biodegradable Waste: Available Resources for Sustainable Circular Cities
Sbicego, Michela;
2025
Abstract
With over half the world’s population currently residing in cities, and projections indicating a rise to two-thirds by 2050 (with 90% of this growth in low- and middle-income countries), urban centers face escalating demands for foodFood, waterWater, and energyEnergy. Simultaneously, urban populations generate increasing amounts of waste, notably organic waste and municipal wastewater. The Urban Nexus approach offers an action-oriented framework within the circular bioeconomy, positioning urban biodegradable waste as a valuable resourceResource for creating sustainableSustainable, innovative cities and addressing waste management and ecosystem protection challenges. This paper presents applied research conducted at lab and semi-pilot scale, focusing on the anaerobic microbial conversion of urban waste (foodFoodwasteFood waste, sewage sludge, and compostable bioplastics) into valuable by-products, including marketable carboxylic acids, not disregarding methane production. A preliminary economic assessment for the valorizationValorizationof foodFoodwasteFood waste and sludge from the city of Milan, Italy, is also presented.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
