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Nutrient circularity from waste to fertilizer: A perspective from LCA studies.
1Material Flow Management and Resource Economy, Institute IWAR, Technical University of Darmstadt, Franziska-Braun-Straße 7, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
The Science of the Total Environment
|January 29, 2025
Summary
Nutrient circularity in the waste-agriculture nexus requires robust Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods. Careful LCA modeling is crucial for optimizing circular economy (CE) pathways and ensuring sustainable resource management, especially in the Global South.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Circular Economy Studies
- Waste Management
Background:
- Nutrient circularity integrates waste/wastewater streams with agriculture, embodying circular economy (CE) principles.
- Recycling nutrients from waste to fertilizers enhances resource management and connects technical and biological cycles.
- Complex CE systems necessitate rigorous assessment tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate trade-offs and potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of current nutrient circularity practices.
- To critically analyze the applicability and limitations of LCA in nutrient CE pathways.
- To identify key areas for methodological improvement in LCA for nutrient recycling.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on nutrient circularity pathways (direct land application, wastewater treatment integration, targeted recycling).
- Critical analysis of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies applied to CE.
- Evaluation of system modeling settings, functional units, allocation methods, and impact indicators in LCA studies.
Main Results:
- Nutrient recycling technologies show limited selectivity despite input stream restrictions.
- LCA is valuable for guiding nutrient circularity but can be constrained by system modeling choices.
- Lower data scales and incomplete systemic analyses limit LCA's ability to fully capture CE characteristics.
Conclusions:
- A deliberate methodological selection in LCA is required for specific CE aspects.
- Full-scale assessments are necessary to capture upscaling gains, process efficiencies, and industrial symbiosis.
- Findings provide a foundation for future LCA research in nutrient circularity, crucial for the Global South.
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