Urban-industrial metabolism within the context of recycling of waste-to-energy residues into construction materials
Author
Franzoni, Angelica
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-06-07
Pages
75
Abstract
This thesis examines urban-industrial metabolism through the lens of recycling waste-to-energy (WtE) residues into construction materials, focusing on optimizing the logistics of transporting ash from municipal waste incinerators to cement producers in the Netherlands. The objective is to identify the best connections between cities, WtE plants, and cement demand to minimize environmental impacts and costs today and toward 2050. The study assembles a dataset on 12 Dutch incinerators (capacity and outputs of energy, heat, electricity, and ash) complemented by data from sources such as Eurostat, CBS, IEA, and the scientific literature. Methods include GIS mapping, matrix construction, scenario development, and a mathematical optimization model implemented in Excel to generate an optimized transport network for 2024 and two 2050 scenarios reflecting circular economy and Green Deal recycling targets alongside population growth. The analysis considers how policy pathways could alter waste flows, incineration rates, and ash availability, and discusses implications for industrial symbiosis in the construction sector. Although the excerpt does not report quantitative results, it indicates that the optimization highlights routes and allocations that could reduce energy use and transport costs and support planning for a more circular waste and construction system over the next 25 years.
Dette speciale undersøger urban-industriel metabolisme i konteksten af at genanvende restprodukter fra affald-til-energi (WtE) i byggematerialer, med fokus på at optimere logistikken for transport af aske fra kommunale forbrændingsanlæg til cementproducenter i Nederlandene. Formålet er at identificere de bedste forbindelser mellem byer, WtE-anlæg og cementefterspørgsel for at minimere miljøpåvirkning og omkostninger i dag og frem mod 2050. Arbejdet bygger på et datasæt for 12 hollandske forbrændingsanlæg (kapacitet samt produktion af energi, varme, elektricitet og aske) suppleret med data fra bl.a. Eurostat, CBS, IEA og videnskabelig litteratur. Metodisk anvendes GIS-kortlægning, opbygning af matricer, scenarieudvikling og matematisk modellering i Excel til at udlede et optimeret transportnet for 2024 og to fremtidsscenarier for 2050, der afspejler cirkulærøkonomi- og Green Deal-mål for øget genanvendelse samt befolkningsvækst. Analysen vurderer, hvordan politikbaner kan ændre affaldsstrømme, forbrændingsrater og asketilgængelighed, og drøfter implikationer for industrisymbiose i byggesektoren. Selvom uddraget ikke angiver konkrete kvantitative resultater, fremgår det, at optimeringen peger på ruter og allokeringer, der kan reducere energiforbrug og transportomkostninger og støtte planlægning af et mere cirkulært affalds- og byggesystem i de næste 25 år.
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